Sid Hartman: Taylor says chemistry is Wolves' problem

Glen Taylor has always expressed confidence that Kevin Garnett will finish his career with the Timberwolves. And the owner of the team hasn't changed his mind.

Taylor said he wasn't aware that Garnett, unhappy that the Wolves didn't make a deal at the NBA trading deadline, told the local press, "Thank God for opt-outs," referring to the fact that he can exercise his opt-out clause to become a free agent after next season.

"I didn't hear what Kevin said, and I just prefer not to comment on it because some of the things you say during emotional times," Taylor said.

The relationship between Taylor and Garnett has been very good, and Taylor has always questioned whether another team could pay Garnett what he draws from the Wolves.

Garnett, who had 26 points and 17 rebounds Sunday to help the Wolves beat the Wizards 98-94, will be paid $21 million this season. His salary jumps to $22 million for 2007-08 and to $24 million in 2008-09, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.

The problem Garnett faces is that there isn't a team in the league who can pay him what the Wolves do. And if Garnett wanted to finish his career with a ring, he would have to take a substantial cut unless the league dramatically changes its salary cap rules.

As for the failure of the Wolves to post a better record, Taylor said he doesn't believe that personnel is the problem. Rather, it's a lack of chemistry and the inability to play as a unit that has led to a number of defeats.

Asked if this problem could be corrected, Taylor said: "Well it can be, but it's not an easy task, it's the same thing that we have in business sometimes too, where people work for their own benefit rather than for the benefit of the organization. It's probably going to take a little while and that's one of the things that's facing [coach Randy Wittman]."

Taylor said he believes Wittman has the personality to correct the problem but added, "I certainly wouldn't put all the weight and all the responsibility on him because sometimes people, there are people that just have their personalities, and they're hard to change."

Taylor added that he had approved a trade at the deadline and was confident it was going through, but the third party involved in the deal backed out at the last minute.

Lucky break for Motzko

The St. Cloud State men's hockey team swept the Gophers over the weekend, and the credit for the Huskies' success is being given to great goaltending by Bobby Goepfert, who might have been playing for the Gophers and coach Don Lucia rather than Bob Motzko under the right situation.

Motzko was a Gophers assistant coach in 2004 and was in the process of recruiting Goepfert, who was looking to transfer from Providence after he had a minor discipline problem there.

The Gophers had recruited Kellen Briggs and Jeff Frazee, so they didn't have a scholarship for Goepfert. "We had Briggs and Frazee already committed when he was transferring, but we did talk to some people out there and did a little background check and then we had to pass and move on. We took the guys we had," Motzko recalled.

Goepfert ended up with St. Cloud State, where Motzko became Huskies coach in 2005.

"We found some ways to win some games, and we've got a heck of a goalie," said Motzko, who is 4-1-2 against the Gophers over the past two seasons.

"He's the real deal, he gives us a shot," Motzko said. "He's given us a chance to get better too. I mean, we can play a little more wide-open hockey with a kid like that in net."

The Pittsburgh Penguins have Goepfert's NHL rights.

Jottings

Former Gophers basketball great Lou Hudson served as alumni captain for Saturday's game against Michigan. Hudson, 62, suffered a serious stroke two years ago and said that he's making improvements, rehabilitating six days a week. ... Dan Monson, the former Gophers men's basketball coach, said: "When I was fired, I thought of all the negative things of the job and wondered if I would want to coach again. But then you are away from it a while, and you really miss it. I did visit a couple of Big Ten basketball practices and learned that coaches like Steve Alford of Iowa and Kelvin Sampson of Indiana don't do things a lot different than I did. I'm looking for a fresh start in the coaching business."

With Gophers football spring practice opening Thurs- day, coach Tim Brewster said he told defensive coordinator Everett Withers that he can have almost any member of the offense who would help add speed and quickness to improve the Gophers defense. Gophers coaches could make a lot of position switches this spring. Brewster said the Junior Day on Saturday was a big success, with 30 players from high schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois spending time getting acquainted with the school's academic facilities as well as the football program. Brewster said that in May, at least one member of his staff will visit every high school in Minnesota.

Because a snowstorm kept a number people away from the Wizards game at Target Center, Chris Wright, the Wolves president, said the team would exchange unused Sunday tickets for any future game this season except for three games (against the Lakers, Heat and Cavaliers). ... Wright said that for the 2005-06 season, the Wolves had only one sellout, and they have already had five this season and could have three more with the teams previously mentioned.

Gophers men's basketball coach Jim Molinari is confident Minneapolis Henry guard Al Nolen Jr. and Hopkins guard Blake Hoffarber will make big contributions as Gophers freshmen next season. Nolen is averaging 12.3 points for Henry, having scored at least 20 points four times. Hoffarber is averaging 24.9 points per game and is averaging 27.8 points in his past 16 games. But like Molinari said, the team will need a big interior forward if it is to become a contender next year.

The appearance of the Edmonton Oilers at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday reminded how hard Lou Nanne worked to try to get Peter Pocklington, owner of the team, to move the franchise to Target Center in 1993 and '94. Glen Sather, then Oilers coach and now Rangers general manager, seemed confident then that it was going to happen. But the Alberta government played a part in stopping any move.

Bobby Smith, the former North Stars star, owns the Halifax (Nova Scotia) Mooseheads, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team. ... Ben Roberts, a former Bloomington Jefferson athlete and the son of former North Stars forward Gordie Roberts, is now playing for the Dallas Stars AAA midget team, an amateur team affiliated with the NHL team.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. and on Podcast twice a week at www.startribune.com/sidcast. shartman@startribune.com