Wednesday's 11 p.m. NBA deadline came and went with Timberwolves forward Kevin Love and Denver's Kosta Koufos -- talk about big men at the opposite ends of the negotiating game -- signing contract extensions to stay with their teams.
Denver's Danilo Gallinari did, too.
Add those three to previously signed max-contract guys Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook and five players -- count 'em, just five -- from the 2008 draft class will remain with their teams for the long run.
That leaves a whole bunch of possibilities for the Wolves and other teams searching for young yet experienced talent next summer.
The Wolves will add Kevin Love's new $15 million-ish salary to their books for the 2012-13 season. But by letting Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph, Martell Webster and Brad Miller go and perhaps by dealing Luke Ridnour at the trade deadline, they still could clear enough money for a significant free agent.
Admittedly, it's much more difficult to acquire a restricted free agent because their current team has the right to match all offers. Golden State experienced that this offseason when they signed DeAndre Jordan to a $42 million-plus offer sheet and the Clippers simply matched.
But it can be done, either by extending an offer too big and painful for the player's current team to match or by offering assets in a sign-and-trade that give the player's current team something in return.
The options are varied this time around for a Wolves team looking to solve its two biggest needs, a big-time scoring shooting guard and an athletic starting center. Some of those options:
