Five fresh faces preparing to spur Wolves' fresh start

Chemistry was on their side as members of the latest five-man band out of Boston stepped forward as the newest Timberwolves.

By Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune

Last update: August 18, 2007 - 9:36 PM

Familiar with each other but foreign to their new fans in their new town, the five newest players on a completely remade Timberwolves team were introduced Tuesday at Target Center.

Four of those five Boston Celtics acquired along with two draft picks last week for Kevin Garnett -- the NBA's biggest trade ever for one player -- are 24 years or younger, which means the Timberwolves will head to training camp in Turkey come October with nine such players and possibly eight new faces.

"When people say young, they mean we're supposed to lose," said Al Jefferson, the fourth-year power forward who was the centerpiece of the trade. "I don't agree with that at all."

A report out of Boston when the trade was finalized suggested Jefferson was devastated that day.

"It wasn't that I took it hard," he said. "I just had never been traded before. The trade was more of a shock, but now I think it's a great opportunity for all of us. ... It's a compliment for all of us to be traded for KG, one of the best players in the league. I don't feel any pressure."

Unable to retain a collection of players around Garnett who could contend for a championship, the Wolves have reversed course, opting for the promise of youth and the possibility they can build a sustaining winner from a group that includes Jefferson and former Boston teammates Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair as well as Randy Foye, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants and first-round draft pick Corey Brewer.

A decade ago, Garnett, Stephon Marbury and Tom Gugliotta were the franchise's future, a promise that lasted less than two years before Gugliotta left via free agency and Marbury forced a trade to New Jersey. Many others -- Terrell Brandon, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, among them -- followed.

On Tuesday, Wolves vice president for basketball operations Kevin McHale called the team's new configuration of youngsters "as talented a group of guys as we've had."I can see this group being together a long time," said Gomes, a third-year small forward who was a second-round draft pick.

McHale suggested the five newest Timberwolves' familiarity with each other will help speed a learning process that features so many new pieces.

"If you traded for five guys from different teams, it'd be more disjointed," McHale said. "They already know people. They already have some friendship."

Add veterans Ricky Davis and Mark Blount -- acquired in last year's Szczerbiak trade -- and McHale has assembled seven players from his former Celtics team that lost 107 games the past two seasons.

"They can play, but can they win?" McHale said as he looked down a podium where his five new players sat. "They will dictate what will happen. They are going to establish who they are and what they are. It's their team."

Wolves owner Glen Taylor said he has talked with season ticket holders who were disappointed with Garnett's departure but understand that the franchise needed a new direction built around potential and patience.

"I'm not going to be too patient," Taylor said.

Somebody asked head coach Randy Wittman, who replaced fired Dwayne Casey during last season and signed a three-year contract this summer, if he was by nature a patient man.

"We're going to find out," he said, smiling. "My job is to win. Hopefully, Glen will have a little patience."

Notes: McHale said he has had preliminary discussions with Jefferson's agent about a contract extension. Jefferson will earn $2.48 million this season

Jerry Zgoda • jzgoda@startribune.com

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