Wolves grab on to Gomes

Signing the player who started 74 games last season means the team has kept its three main free agents.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: July 26, 2008 - 6:46 AM

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The Timberwolves reached terms on a multiyear contract with restricted free agent Ryan Gomes on Friday, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.

The Wolves now have struck new deals with the three main free agents of their own: Gomes, guard Sebastian Telfair and forward Craig Smith, all 25 years old or younger. They also added 2008 first-round pick Kevin Love and veteran shooter Mike Miller to a team that won 22 games last season.

Gomes, one of five players acquired in last summer's trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston, traveled on the Wolves' summer caravan tour this week to Mankato, Willmar and Brainerd, even though he was not under contract and even though his agent continued to negotiate with other NBA teams.

Gomes said the Wolves asked him at the end of last season about accompanying the summer caravan and he said he agreed to go and kept his commitment because "I'm a community guy."

"I can tell you, there's very few people who would be doing that," said Kevin McHale, Wolves vice president of basketball operations, when he announced Telfair's signing Wednesday. "That's another reason why we're very, very fond of these guys and why we think they're very special young men."

Financial details of Gomes' contract were not known, but it is believed to be for at least three seasons. The Wolves had the right to match any offer Gomes received from another team.

Last week, the Wolves signed Smith, 24, to a two-year, $4.8 million contract. Wednesday, they finalized a contract with Telfair that will pay the 23-year-old $2.3 million next season and $2.5 million in 2009-10; Telfair has the option to return for a third season for $2.7 million.

Gomes -- a 6-7 forward who turns 26 on Sept. 1 -- played all 82 games last season for the first time in his first three NBA seasons and started 74 of those, including the final 58 games.

He averaged 12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists while playing both forward positions. Gomes scored a career-high 35 points Jan. 21 at Golden State, a game that was a turning point in the Wolves' season.

Second-year forward Chris Richard is the team's only remaining unsigned free agent. On Wednesday, McHale said he considers Richard's return a foregone conclusion.

The Wolves also are expected to announce the hiring early next week of assistant coach Dean Cooper, the Houston Rockets' vice president of basketball operations last season. Cooper will replace Bob Ociepka, who joined new Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro's staff.

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