If Kevin McHale wants to continue as the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations, it sounds as if team owner Glen Taylor will welcome him back.
That's how the arrangement has gone for years, and a third consecutive season missing the playoffs apparently won't change it. Taylor said Monday that he and McHale won't formally discuss the coming offseason, and the Wolves' plans and personnel for 2007-08, until after this season ends April 18. "It's my assumption that he will be back," Taylor said. "But you know Kevin. That's something we'll talk about."
KG wants in on the loop
Kevin Garnett concedes that it might be time to give more minutes to the younger players. It's just that he would have liked a heads-up first.
Garnett appeared miffed after Saturday's game, when he played just 31 ½ minutes -- his third-lowest total of the season -- and didn't return to a close game until there was less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Between then and Monday, Garnett and coach Randy Witt- man have talked. After shootaround, Garnett said he's OK with the plan, but: "If they want to play the young guys instead of [the vets], then so be it," he said. "But tell me that ahead of time. Be up front with it. ... I've been to this party before, I've danced to this music. I could sort of see it coming."
Garnett is always going to have a hard time dialing it down. As he said more than once Monday, he prepares for 82 games and 48 minutes. But the Wolves are all but eliminated from playoff contention, and Wittman wants to play his young players a lot down the stretch. And Garnett is OK with that, though he feels there is value to having rookies Randy Foye and Craig Smith and second-year player Rashad McCants playing with him.
Keeping it positive
The arrival of Toronto gave Wolves guard Mike James -- who had a career year with the Raptors last season -- a chance to reminisce. James has struggled at times this season. One reason, he suggested, is the style of play. In Toronto, James said, he ran more pick-and-rolls, which put the ball in his hands more often.
"I was able to be aggressive with that," he said. "Whereas here, I'm mostly a spot-up guy."
Despite a difficult season, James said he has kept his confidence.
"I'm never going to get down on myself and I'm never going to get discouraged," James said. "Knowing how tough this season was for me, physically and mentally, I still know I'm a hell of a player."
CHARLOTTE 111, MIAMI 103, OT
Charlotte 29 28 21 14 19 -- 111
Miami 22 27 19 24 11 -- 103
CHARLOTTE FG FT Reb
Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PT
Wallace 47:31 10-15 7-9 2-8 1 3 30
wolves/nba
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