Chart: A look at NBA free agency and Wolves targets

July 1, 2012 at 5:50AM
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford, left, flies to the hoop past Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. Crawford came off the bench to score 15 points in the Blazers 97-84 win over the Grizzlies.
Will the Wolves go after Portland guard Jamal Crawford again? (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

FIVE UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

L.A. Lakers power forward Jordan Hill: Athletic big man who played for Rick Adelman in Houston is expected to visit Timberwolves on Monday.

Brooklyn guard Deron Williams: One of the NBA's best point guards will either stay with the Nets when they move to the boroughs or go home to Dallas.

Phoenix point guard Steve Nash: Toronto planned to come knocking at his New York City townhome at midnight Saturday in a full-court press to bring him home to Canada.

Boston shooting guard Ray Allen: Yes, he's getting old but still can shoot it. If he doesn't return to Boston like Kevin Garnett did Saturday, he could end up in Miami.

Brooklyn power forward Kris Humphries: Minnesota's own isn't a top-tier free agent, but he's a productive big man in the prime of his career and should get a rich payday.

FIVE RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

New Orleans shooting guard Eric Gordon; Indiana center Roy Hibbert; Portland small forward Nicolas Batum; New York point guard Jeremy Lin; Denver center JaVale McGee. Batum would be a dream get for Wolves, but restricted FAs are notoriously hard to sign.

FIVE WHO FIT THE TIMBERWOLVES

"Retired" shooting guard Brandon Roy: David Kahn has talked to the former All-Star who left the game before last season because he has no cartilage left in his knees and is interested in signing him. Dallas, Golden State, Indiana and Chicago also reportedly are interested, but will his knees make it through training camp, let alone a whole season?

Portland shooting guard Jamal Crawford: The Wolves already have twice pursued Crawford, who opted out of his contract for next season and is an unrestricted free agent. They tried to sign him before last season, then nearly made a deal at March's trade deadline.

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Russian shooting guard Alexey Shved: Wolves have pursued this creative 6-5 passer who can play both guard spots and has been compared to Houston's Dragic. He has been playing for CSKA Moscow and also has attracted interest from Oklahoma City and Memphis.

Memphis shooting guard O.J. Mayo: He is now free for anybody to sign but will cost $8 million a season or more, which probably is too rich for the Wolves if they are trying to make room for Pau Gasol's $19 million salary.

Houston shooting guard Courtney Lee: The Wolves already have acquired one Houston Rocket whom Rick Adelman knows well. Lee defends and shoots the three. It'd take more than the $5-plus million midlevel exception so the Rockets won't match the restricted free agent, which is why it's more likely the Wolves aim to sign Crawford, Roy or Shved for one of those salary slots if they can acquire Gasol.

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Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune

The Wolves didn’t appear engaged at either end of the floor and lost for the third time in four games.

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