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.
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