Two guard aspirants are polar opposites

Blake Ahearn is 24 and has played in only 12 NBA games. Kevin Ollie is 35 and a veteran of 11 seasons. What they have in common is being candidates for a backup spot with the Timberwolves.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: October 17, 2008 - 10:13 PM

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In eight days, the Timberwolves must submit their regular-season roster to the NBA office. Barring a late personnel move, their decision on the team's third point guard couldn't offer more disparate choices.

Kevin Ollie, steady and defensively dependable, is 35 and an 11-year veteran now playing for his 11th NBA team. Blake Ahearn, a playmaker and an NCAA record-setting shooter, is 24 and played 12 NBA games with Miami late season after starting with the Dakota Wizards in the NBA Developmental League.

"We literally are the complete opposites," Ahearn said. "The one thing we have in common is we're both good guys. He's a good player. There's a reason he has been in the league as long as he has. It's going to come down to their choice. I can only control what I can control, play my game and hope for the best."

Wolves coach Randy Wittman has spent the past two preseason games auditioning each for the job behind Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair.

On Tuesday, Ollie played 17 minutes in Chicago and provided the guiding hand down the stretch in a 10-point victory over the Bulls.

"It's a healthy competitiveness," said Ollie, who perhaps most importantly would serve as a mentor for young guards Foye and Telfair if he makes the team. "We're not just auditioning for the Timberwolves. We're auditioning for other teams. You never know who's watching."

On Thursday, Ahearn played 21 minutes in Toronto and made his first six shots, including three three-pointers, in a four-point victory, when Wittman called him the team's most aggressive, productive point guard.

After Thursday's game, Wittman pointedly said, "That shouldn't be the case when we've got guys like Sebastian and Randy Foye, who should be penetrating and creating things."

Ahearn did so after getting poked in the eye in Wednesday's practice, the second time that has happened in practice since training camp nearly three weeks ago.

"Everyone's on me about wearing goggles," said Ahearn, who set NCAA records for career and single-season free-throw percentage at Missouri State. "I'm not wearing goggles yet. You won't see [begoggled former Chicago Bulls forward] Horace Grant or anything like that out there."

What you would have seen on Thursday in Toronto is Ahearn's lefthanded, behind-the-back pass to Ryan Gomes, who then drew a foul going to the basket midway through the fourth quarter.

"I like to play that way," said Ahearn, who shoots righthanded. "Pete Maravich is my favorite player. I don't go out of my way to make plays like that, it's just instincts. But if there's ever a time where it can be done, I'll do it."

But where are the floppy socks? Maravich, arguably the most dynamic player in college basketball history, was known for his floppy hair and floppy socks.

"No floppy socks," Ahearn said. "I haven't broken those out yet. Maybe if I make the team, down the road, I'll break out some floppy socks."

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