Wolves plan to unload Griffin

By Steve Aschburner, Star Tribune

Last update: January 19, 2007 - 11:43 PM

Troubled forward Eddie Griffin officially completed his five-game suspension Friday night, a penalty imposed by the NBA for violating its anti-drug policy. That puts him back in the Wolves' hands as an available player -- though his stay might be short.

Owner Glen Taylor indicated after the Wolves' double-overtime loss to Detroit Friday night that Griffin had played his last game with the team. He said the 6-10 player's status would be resolved in the coming week, suggesting the Wolves would release or arrange a buyout with Griffin.

"Not a suspension. It'll be a long-term deal," Taylor said.

The owner said that the team, given Griffin's history of problems with three different franchises, put as much protective language into its three-year, $8.1 million contract as possible to anticipate off-court behavioral problems. "We sent it to the league and got it back with the best [language] we could get," Taylor said. "We had it written as tight as you can. So if we can't enforce it, we can't enforce it."

Until a decision is made, Griffin is eligible to practice and play, if the Wolves choose to use him.

"He'll be a member of our team [Saturday]," coach Dwane Casey said before the game. "As far as being back in the rotation, we'll see about that. We'll have to get him some time back with the team before we decide how we're going to go, active or inactive."

Griffin had been held out of 13 consecutive games before he was suspended on Jan. 12.

Webber: KG yes, Wolves no

Chris Webber, in less than a month's time, became the second displaced star from the Philadelphia 76ers to snub Kevin Garnett.

When Allen Iverson wound up in Denver last month, of course, he did so via trade in a decision made by 76ers management. When Webber signed with Detroit Tuesday after negotiating a buyout from Philly, it was entirely the veteran power forward's choice.

Still, it wasn't personal.

"If there was one player I wanted to play with, it was KG," the newest Piston said Friday after the morning shootaround. "He's my favorite player in the league. He knows that, he's my man.

"But the situation just wasn't good. I wanted to be on a team that had been there before, a team that was really seasoned. Not that this team isn't good.

"And also, they told me I'd have to play behind [Mark] Blount. I respect him, but I would have came here to play with KG."

Wait, someone in authority with the Wolves actually told Webber -- who started for Detroit on Friday -- that he would back up Blount?

"That's what I heard," Webber said, inscrutably.

In fact, Webber never included Minnesota on his list of five possible destinations when he exited Philadelphia, and Wolves management never believed it had a legitimate chance to recruit him.

Still in limbo

Despite reports that Marko Jaric might be traded to Detroit for one of the Pistons' excess big men, Jaric still was with the Wolves on Friday night. In fact, he said he hoped to play Sunday at Phoenix, after missing seven of the past 10 games because of a sprained right thumb.

The Detroit players mentioned as possible targets in the deal -- Nazr Mohammed, Antonio McDyess and Dale Davis -- also are awaiting their fate. Webber's signing has made minutes scarce.

Steve Aschburner • saschburner@startribune.com

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