SB Nation Minnesota - Timberwolves Stand Pat At The Trade Deadline Despite Numerous Rumors

Timberwolves Trade Deadline: Minnesota Passes On Acquiring Jamal Crawford In A Three-Team Deal

2012-03-15T20:37:18Z

The Minnesota Timberwolves discussed a three-team deal that would have brought Jamal Crawford to Minnesota up to the deadline before ultimately passing on the trade.

The proposed deal included sending Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Lakers, with Derek Fisher moving to the Portland Trailblazers while the Timberwolves obtain Jamal Crawford. Via Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

"Our guys looked at all the alternatives, and in the end, we think we've got a good group of guys on our team who will make a good run for the playoffs," Wolves owner Glen Taylor said. "We know that Ricky's down, but there's nothing we can do about that."

Minnesota is 22-21 and pushing for the eighth-seed in the Western Conference, despite losing Ricky Rubio to a season-ending ACL tear.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Lakers Trade For Timberwolves Never Happens, Michael Beasley Stays In Minnesota

2012-03-15T19:20:48Z

The NBA trade rumors long mentioned Michael Beasley and the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the NBA's trade deadline hit at 2 p.m. on Thursday afternoon without any reports surfacing regarding a trade in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It might not be a bad thing, either, considering the rumored deals the Wolves were involved got a bit worse on Thursday.

The most recent rumor that came out involved Beasley being shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers and Luke Ridnourgoing to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a three-way deal that would have brought Jamal Crawford from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Wolves. The other moving parts were (reportedly) either Derek Fisher or Steve Blake, but Fisher was sent to the Houston Rockets instead.

Going without a trade likely won't bug head coach Rick Adelman, who said standing pat would help chemistry.

"These guys have built a base, and we've got to somehow find a way with these guys," Adelman said. "If somebody is added, then we have to look at that. That's why I'm not sure what will happen in this league. If teams make moves, you might bring in one guy who can slip in and help. But with only 27 games left and no practices, it's going to be hard to incorporate two, three guys in, like some of these teams are talking about if they make a big trade."

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

NBA Trade Rumors: Timberwolves Add Luke Ridnour To 3-Team Trade Featuring Lakers, Blazers?

2012-03-15T15:17:53Z

The NBA trade rumors are changing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, apparently. The deal that is supposedly going to send Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Jamal Crawford from the Portland Trail Blazers might cause the Wolves to give up more than originally expected.

The original version of the three-team trade, or at least the one being most-widely reported, would have only seen the Wolves with the above two moving parts. ESPN's Dave McMenamin has added a new wrinkle, however, reporting that Luke Ridnour might also be involved.

Several variations of the trade have been discussed. One would land Beasley on the Lakers in a three-team deal that would send Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford to the Wolves and Luke Ridnour from Minnesota to Portland. Los Angeles would give up one of its two 2012 first-round draft picks in the deal and use its $8.9 million trade exception, acquired when it traded Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December, to absorb Beasley's approximate $6.3 million salary. Portland would also receive the Lakers' first-round pick.

If the Wolves are forced to give up both Ridnour and Beasley in exchange for Crawford, the deal will have gone from good to bad in a hurry, it seems.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Lakers Trade Rumors Don't Worry Minnesota Timberwolves' Michael Beasley

2012-03-15T14:25:24Z

NBA trade rumors are going to swirl right up until Thursday afternoon's trade deadline and its likely a few will involve Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley. The deal that seems closest seems to be the three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers, but anything could happen as the deadline nears and team needs change.

Beasley knows that, but he's taking it in stride according the quotes he gave the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda.

"I'm just a pawn in this game," Beasley said after practice. "L.A., Boston, New Jersey, Orlando, anywhere ... I mean, if they decide to move me, then I've got to go. I'm not saying I want to, but it's something I have no control over."

Beasley's obviously been keeping up with the rumors considering he named the majority of the teams involved in what we're calling the Michael Beasley sweepstakes.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Timberwolves Trade With Trail Blazers Might Not Be As Close As It Seemed

2012-03-14T22:47:23Z

The NBA trade rumors were moving quite steadily on Wednesday afternoon, indicating that a deal involving three teams was very close to being done. That apparently isn't the case, however, as Minnesota Timberwolves target Jamal Crawford will be playing for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

The three-team trade discussed involves the Wolves sending Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Lakers, Crawford being sent to the Timberwolves and Portland receiving Steve Blake from the Lakers. Trail Blazers beat writer Joe Freeman has put a wet blanket on that deal for the rest of Wednesday night, however.

Coach Mac said Crawford will be in uniform and will play tonight vs Knicks. Said management has not told him to hold Crawford out.
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) March 14, 2012

Typically players are held out of games if they're close to being traded so the deal isn't blocked by an injury that evening. The Blazers are either not worried about that possibility or they're not as close to the rumored deal as it seemed earlier in the day.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

NBA Trade Rumors: Michael Beasley Says He's A 'Pawn' In This Game

2012-03-14T21:53:27Z

NBA trade rumors are flowing pretty freely around Michael Beasley of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he's been able to take it all in stride. That's what players should do since they typically don't have a say either way, but Beasley seems more relaxed than most.

The Wolves forward talked to the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda on Wednesday afternoon about the looming trade deadline, saying he's not too worried about what happens in the next 24 hours.

"Twenty-four hours from now? Whooooo," Beasley said, his voice rising when asked if he still expected to wear a Wolves uniform Thursday night at Utah. "I mean, of course. But if I'm not, I'm not.

"I'm just a pawn in this game. L.A. Boston, New Jersey, Orlando, anywhere they decide to move me, then I've got to go. I'm not saying I want to, but that's something I have no control over. I'd love to stay here. It don't make it no easier if I've got to up and move. I got a nice-sized house with a lot of things inside of it, but I'd rather stay. If I've got to go, it's just business."

Leaving a house with "a lot of things inside of it" can't be easy, but could soon become a reality for the Wolves enigmatic forward.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

NBA Trade Rumors: Michael Beasley Is Not A Hot Topic, According To ESPN's Chad Ford

2012-03-14T21:15:01Z

There are quite a few NBA trade rumors circulating around Michael Beasley and the Minnesota Timberwolves, which makes sense considering there have been reports out there for quite awhile saying that Beasley is on the trading block. Not everyone believes the anonymous sources, however.

Beasley's status as a player everyone is trying to trade for has been inflated, according to ESPN's Chad Ford. The analyst expounded during his weekly chat on Wednesday afternoon.

I love that story ... "Beasley is a VERY hot topic ..." and "many" teams are interested ... and it's from a Minnesota source. What do you think they're going to say? No one wants the guy. Clearly they want to move him and clearly they're trying to create a market for him. Whether any of this is actually real? I haven't found a team dying to get their hands on Beasley. I think some would take him for the right price ... but teams aren't lined up to give away assets for him.

It sounds like Ford might not be a big Beasley fan, huh?

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

NBA Trade Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves Target Jamal Crawford Comments On Blazers' Situation

2012-03-14T20:50:07Z

The latest NBA trade rumors indicate that the Minnesota Timberwolves are once again involved in discussions regarding a deal that would net them Jamal Crawford from the Portland Trail Blazers. Nothing is done yet, but the reports pertaining to Crawford have gotten back to him ... and he seems a bit perturbed.

There's apparently been a mutiny on the Blazers roster and local sports columnist and radio host John Canzano is working to get to the bottom of it. He was able to get a hold of Crawford and the shooting guard was a bit defensive regarding his status with the Blazers.

Reached Jamal Crawford who said he doesn't have "enough power to try and get a guy fired."

"Check my quotes since I've been here. Never thrown anyone under the bus-- coach or teammate! I pride myself on being a pro and doing whatever is asked," Crawford said. "I don't even have enough juice to say that I want to play the position I signed up for (shooting guard)."

Canzano notes that Crawford has been "a good soldier" this season, but that final sentence indicates he might not be completely happy with his role in Portland.

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.