From: jerry@MicroUnity.com (Jerry Kreuscher)
Subject: Wolves Wheel and Deal
Summary: News from the frozen wastes
Reply-To: toni@zetaco.com
Organization: MicroUnity Systems Engineering, Inc.
Date: 15 Sep 92 15:49:11


DISCLAIMER: Responses/inquiries via email to toni@zetaco.com.  I do
not currently have news access.  My sincerest thanks to Jerry for
serving as my temporary Hizonner Richter in this matter.

With the Twins in a nosedive and the Viking having been somewhat
embarrassed last weekend, the Wolves actually got some front page of
the sports section space in today's Strib.  Trader Jack continues to
do his thing, this time trading original Timberwolf Tony Campbell to
New York for a second round draft choice in 1994 (or 1995 or 1996).
Can you say "room under the salary cap"?  This freed up ~1.4 million
dollars to add to the paltry $600K that was available after the
previous Richardson/Mitchell for Person/Williams deal.

According to the Strib, the Wolves discussed the trade with the Knicks
last Wednesday, but the Knicks were not interested.  Then guess what .
. . Boston signed X, and the Knicks had a slight hole at the small
forward position.

The Wolves will receive the Knicks' second round pick in 1994, unless
New York trades that pick in another deal, in which case the Wolves
will receive the Knicks' 1995 second round pick, unless . . . and so
on until 1996.

The Strib speculates (and I don't disagree) that McCloskey might not
yet be done dealing, and might try to create additional salary cap
room by trading Scott Brooks ($500K) or Gerald Gladd ($877K).  Of
course, the big bucks become available if the Wolves (can) move either
Felton Spencer or Luc Longley.  Nellie is reportedly still interested
in Longley (I think he has a salary cap problem there), and apparently
the Clippers are expected to make a pitch for Spencer now that Stanley
Roberts has nixed a 3-way trade with the Knicks and Clippers that
would have sent him (Roberts) to L.A.

So, the Woofies roster currently looks like this:

Power Forward:
  Christian Laettner
  Marlon Maxey
  Bob McCann

Small Forward:
  Chuck Person
  Thurl Bailey
  Gerald Glass
  Mark Randall

Center:
  Felton Spencer
  Luc Longley

Point Guard:
  Micheal Williams
  Chris Smith
  Scott Brooks

Off Guard:
  Doug West
  Gundars Vetra

Of this group, Laettner, Maxey, and Smith are rookies, and Randall is
a restricted free agent.

Micheal Williams and Chuck Person had their first meeting with the
Twin Cities media yesterday.  Mr. Person wasted no time in setting the
record straight: "It's your opinion that we're a long way from the
playoffs.  This is a whole new team and we're going to contend.  We're
not going to lose every other game like they have in the past.  I'm a
winner and we're going to win."  Notice that word "contend"!  Also
notice that he gave the Wolves the benefit of the doubt when claiming
that they had lost every other game in the past . . . with only 15
wins last season, they lost many more than that.  I think I can speak
for most of the Wolves fans when I say that we would welcome a loss
every other game!

I should probably say that I don't think this was a Bad Deal for the
Wolves.  Campbell's contribution to the team had steadily declined,
and he didn't seem to fit in to Coach Rodgers Plan very well.  It
opens up playing time for Doug West, which is a Good Thing.

REPEAT DISCLAIMER: Responses/inquiries via email to toni@zetaco.com.
I do not currently have news access.