I came away from David Kahn's first meeting with media members since the lockout was imposed in July not sure why, but feeling like something just wasn't quite right.

Then I figured it out.

In his own way, he seemed kinda understated and almost humble.

Dressed in slacks and an open collared dress shirt, he kept his language simple and his sentences almost short by his standards and, despite plenty of prodding, sounded like he wanted the play of this reconfigured team to speak for him.

He was asked how good this team is after adding Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and new coach Rick Adelman.

"I'm really looking forward to the season," he said.

My colleague from St. Paul Charley Walters tried to get him to expound.

"I'm really looking forward to the season," he said. "I'm looking forward to the seasonmand I think most people are. I just sense in the community, just in the times I've been stopped...I'm looking forward to this with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm and I hope that's shared by the community as well.

"It should be a fun year."

I'd heard from some who work with him and around him that they sensed some change in him last summer, from something as simple as deciding to organize weekly lunches out with the basketball-operations staff.

Here's the story I wrote for the Friday paper and web site in which he touches on a wide range of subjects.

Two final things:

* Did you see? Timberwolves players are back on the team's website after five months' exile.

See for yourself at www.timberwolves.com

That 66-game season must be getting close.

* The league schedule will released Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Central time on NBA TV.