While it sounds like the Clippers -- at least according to Chris Paul -- could be front-runners for the services of J.R. Smith, his name has been mentioned in connection with the Wolves. SI.com's Sam Amick has this nugget:

The J.R. Smith watch will heat up later this week, as the free-agent gunner is due to return from China and will pick his next destination soon thereafter. While the Clippers and Knicks are known to be two possible landing spots for the scorer, sources close to Smith have also said Minnesota is in the running, in large part, because the Timberwolves can offer up to $5 million by way of their midlevel exception. The Knicks could pay Smith a pro-rated mini midlevel for $2.5 million, while the Clippers could give him the veteran's minimum. A source with knowledge of Minnesota's thinking, however, said Smith is not in the team's plans.

Smith, you'll recall, was bound to play for his team in China because of the contract he signed during the NBA lockout. But he's about to be a free man. The question to you, dear Wolves fans: Would you want Smith? On the one hand, he seems to be exactly the kind of piece the team is missing -- a two-guard with good size who can score from inside and outside. But is the price too high? And how would he fit into the mix of the team overall?

Perhaps it is best answered in the context of a bigger question: Should the Wolves be thinking about making moves this year, or should they still consider this bizarre lockout year to be about learning and building from within?