SB Nation Minnesota - NBA Free Agency 2012: Nicolas Batum To Remain With Portland Trail Blazers

Robbie Hummel Agrees To Terms With Spanish Team Obradoiro Cab

2012-08-08T21:13:26Z

On Wednesday afternoon, Minnesota Timberwolves draft pick Robbie Hummel announced via his personal twitter account that he will be playing for Obradoiro Cab of the first tier Spanish association, Liga ACB.

Hummel was selected by the Timberwolves with the No. 58 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Purdue University where he was a 2012 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American.

Thanks to everyone for the congrats! Cant wait to play for @obradoirocab...I'm lookin forward to getting over to Spain to get to work!
— Robbie Hummel (@RobbieHummel) August 8, 2012

Due to the amount of competition at the forward position in Minnesota, it was believed that Hummel may opt to play in Spain in order to hone his craft and receive a consistent spot in the lineup that he may not get at this time with the Wolves.

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Timberwolves Free Agency: Draft Pick Robbie Hummel Could Play In Spain, According To Report

2012-08-08T01:41:45Z

The Minnesota Timberwovles have been quite active this summer trying to upgrade the roster to compliment the young talent remaining in Minnesota led by Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. The additions of guard Brandon Roy and forward Andrei Kirilinko along with rookie guard Alexey Shved have raised expectations.

But all of the player moves have created a glut of forwards which may have second round draft pick Robbie Hummel looking to play in Europe. Other summer trades added Dante Cunningham and Chase Buddinger to the mix which leaves little room for Hummel to earn a spot in the playing rotation let alone a guarantee to make the roster out of camp.

According to HoopsHype, Hummel is close to signing with Spanish club Obradoiro which would allow Hummel to get paid and continue developing his game on the court. Hummel has plenty to prove after surviving two ACL surgeries at Purdue.

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NBA Free Agency 2012: Adelman Responds To Portland Comments About Batum Offer

2012-07-27T03:15:19Z

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman is happy with the talent assembled on the roster he will guide through the 2012-13 NBA season. One player Minnesota targeted as a restricted free agent is not among those players, though.

Nicolas Batum expressed his desire to join the Timberwolves after signing an offer sheet. But after Portland matched the offer to retain Batum, Trail Blazers' GM Neil Olshey went out of his way to mention that Batum's comments were delivered under pressure from the Timberwolves and his agent Bouna Ndaiye.

According to a report by Kerry Eggers, Adelman wondered why Olshey would bother making his comments after getting his man.

"I'm amazed at all the stuff that went out," Adelman said. "Didn't Portland try to get (Indiana's) Roy Hibbert? So we're not supposed to go after someone we want? I didn't understand that whole thing. And I don't think Brandon Roy is property of them anymore. They let him go.

"All that stuff surprised me. We were just trying to get a player who fit in our system. Unfortunately, it went on and on and on, and I have no control over that."

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NBA Free Agency: Timberwolves Offer For Ronnie Brewer Not Enough, According To Agent

2012-07-25T14:26:10Z

There haven't been all that many signings for the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency, but that hasn't been for lack of trying. One of the latest attempted moves -- and also one of the more high profile ones -- by the Wolves was throwing an offer to former Chicago Bulls guard Ronnie Brewer.

It didn't end up working out for the Wolves as they had intended, despite an offer called 'generous', Brewer decided to instead sign with the New York Knicks. According to Brewer's agent, it was a move that Brewer felt provided a better opportunity:

"Minnesota was very interested in Ronnie and was very aggressive about it," Thomas said. "For the things that were important to him, he felt that the better move was to go to New York. Ronnie was more comfortable with the opportunity there."

As posited by Ray Richardson of Twincities.com, one of the reasons that Brewer may not have been interested is the sheer number of shooting guards that the Timberwolves have brought in to hopefully start playing next season already:

Kahn's determination to improve the Wolves' shooting guard position might have steered Brewer to New York. The Wolves have reached contract agreements with Brandon Roy and Alexey Shved, though neither has signed. The Wolves also made a trade with the Houston Rockets on June 26 to acquire small forward Chase Budinger, who can play shooting guard, as can returning veterans Wes Johnson, J.J. Barea and Luke Ridnour.

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Timberwolves Free Agency: Minnesota Agrees To Terms With Greg Stiemsma, According To Report

2012-07-21T21:38:49Z

The Minnesota Timberwolves have mostly been that team that hasn't been able to sign anybody this offseason. It seemed like the Minnesota Wild of the NHL took all of the signing mojo by bringing in Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, but as it turns out, the T-Wolves have finally made a pretty good deal.

The team has been pursuing center Greg Stiemsma for some time now, and according to Jerry Zgoda on Twitter, they've agreed to terms on a deal with him. There are no contract details at this point. Stiemsma received a $1.05 million qualifying offer from the Boston Celtics, but they've been going through some pretty serious cap issues lately.

Minnesota had their eyes on Stiemsma from the beginning, but they focused most of their efforts on Nicolas Batum, who wanted to come to Minnesota. But the Portland Trail Blazers matched Minnesota's offer for Batum and the Timberwolves weren't able to acquire his services.

Stiemsma averaged 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 13.9 minutes per game as a rookie a season ago.

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NBA Free Agency 2012: Robin Lopez A Potential Target For Timberwolves

2012-07-21T19:12:18Z

The Minnesota Timberwolves still need some additional big man depth, and their free-agent options are starting to get a little slim. One potential target could be restricted free agent Robin Lopez of the Phoenix Suns, according to a tweet from Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN:

I wouldn't rule out Robin Lopez for the #Twolves. Suns have bigs, plus MN had talks w/ them in Batum 3-way scenarios.
— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) July 21, 2012

Lopez has been inconsistent in Phoenix, but he's a legitimate seven-footer and could bring energy to the Timberwolves bench. In four years with the Suns, he averaged 5.8 points on 52 percent shooting and grabbed 3.3 rebounds per game.

The Suns have extended Lopez a qualifying offer of just over $4 million.

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NBA Free Agency 2012: Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves Favorites For Anthony Tolliver

2012-07-20T18:53:10Z

On Friday afternoon, Chris Tomasson reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves are the two front runners to acquire the services of free agent forward Anthony Tolliver.

Via Tomasson's Twitter stream:

"Minnesota and Cleveland are the frontrunners,'' said Tolliver, who played the past two seasons for the Timberwolves. "But the last time around (when Tolliver was a free agent in 2010), Minnesota wasn't a frontrunner and came on at the end.''

In addition, Tolliver told Tomasson that the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards have all expressed interest in acquiring the 27-year old's services.

Tolliver made it clear that the Miami Heat also expressed interest but ultimately backed off after they signed Rashard Lewis last week.

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Timberwolves Free Agency 2012: Minnesota Native Jon Leuer On Radar

2012-07-19T23:47:47Z

Jon Leuer might be coming home.

The Long Lake, Minn., native and former University of Wisconsin star was put on waivers by the Rockets, but is getting interest fromt the T-Wolves, according to The St. Paul Pioneer Press. Minnesota was interested in Rockets shooting guard Courtney Lee, but he is heading to Boston in a sign-and-trade.

From the Pioneer Press:

The 6-foot-10 Leuer was waived Wednesday by the Rockets. Leuer, a 2011 second-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Bucks out of the University of Wisconsin, was traded to Houston on June 27. If Leuer clears waivers by 5 p.m. Friday, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Leuer averaged 4.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 46 games with Milwaukee in his first NBA season, making 12 games.

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