wolves/nba

Maybe the Timberwolves wouldn't have made such a big deal about flashing back for an "'80s Night" at Target Center this evening, had they known so much of this season would feel like a hangover from that inaugural decade anyway. Or, more precisely, from that 1989-90 expansion season. Losing 11 in a row on the road? Blowing a 25-point lead at home? Now those sound like moments Pooh Richardson could relate to.

"It looks like they've got the talent," Richardson, an original Timberwolf, said of the current club. "What I've always thought, they've just got to inject some energy. There's got to be some new look, new life."

Richardson, in town to participate in the retro-night festivities, was a part of the Wolves' organization when things were 180 degrees different: Lots of energy, not so much talent. The team's first draft pick ever -- a 6-1 point guard from UCLA, taken with the No. 10 pick in the first round -- he spent three seasons in Minnesota, averaging 15 points and 8.0 assists, numbers to drool for compared to what they're getting at that position now.

Traded to Indiana with Sam Mitchell for Chuck Person and the oft-injured Micheal Williams in September 1992, Richardson played two seasons with the Pacers, then spent his final five seasons back in Los Angeles with the Clippers. Since then, he has revved up the southern California real-estate investing he got active in as a player, and when he called back for a phone interview Wednesday, he was on a Hollywood movie set. Richardson has a role in "Semi-Pro," a hoops film about the rag-tag days of the old ABA starring Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre 3000, among others.

"I don't like to do it [act] that much," Richardson said, "but they're making it fun for me."

Richardson recalls plenty of fun from the first-edition Wolves who were ragtag, too. A roster full of vagabonds, long shots and characters, from Tony Campbell and Tyrone Corbin to Randy Breuer and Tod Murphy, was led by ultra-intense head coach Bill Musselman to a 22-60 record that first season.

The following year, the Wolves grinded to 29-53 but Musselman chafed with ownership and got fired. In 1991-92, they went 15-67.

"We were the best expansion team out there. That was as good as going to the playoffs," Richardson said. "That's one thing that Musselman always gave us: a chance to win. Pass the ball, pass the ball, cut down the shots for the other team."

Last season, Richardson worked as a color analyst on Clippers' broadcasts, so he has thoughts on the Wolves' current plight.

"With a guy like [Kevin] Garnett on that team, when he's in L.A., we talk a little bit," he said. "My biggest thing has always been, 'Stay strong and stay involved. Everything revolves around you. You knew the job was hard before you took it.'

"They have to be able to recruit. You want free agents to want to come play for you. [Owner] Mark Cuban has done that for the Dallas organization. I think the Lakers might struggle with that, because as great a place as Los Angeles is, some players might have problems with coming to play with Kobe Bryant."

Wait, Minnesota might have an edge over L.A.? "Minneapolis is still like a secret, the town," Richardson said. "You have KG, great fans, good organization, the price of living."

This really was getting nostalgic. Still, Richardson did offer perspective to today's Wolves, who might be feeling a little sorry for themselves.

"They actually think they're going through rough times," he said. "But how about guys who only won 30 games, still had to come to the gym, people still embraced them, they still went into the community, they still signed every autograph?"

Sounds just like an old guy. From the '80s.

Steve Aschburner • saschburner@startribune.com