After denying various rumors throughout the week, Timberwolves President David Kahn told the media after intorducing the newest member of the organization, that he has talked with forward Al Jefferson about a potential trade. Phil Miller of the Star Tribune writes that the team will look for opportunities to move the key piece that came to Minnesota in the Kevin Garnett deal:
“It’s the right time, finally, for us to explore this,” Kahn said after introducing draft picks Wesley Johnson, Lazar Hayward and Nemanja Bjelica. “Kurt [Rambis, the Wolves coach] and I needed to watch the team play a year. It would have been a terrible mistake to make decisions without really understanding what we had.”
Kahn said he met with the 6-10 forward and explained his intentions, and that Jefferson understood.
“We will not trade Al unless it’s the right deal for us,” Kahn said. “And Al Jefferson not only could be on this team next season, he could be on the team for the next three seasons.”
The Timberwolves obviously won’t give him away, but if they can add another piece to the puzzle, a deal might make sense with Jefferson’s remaining three years and the team’s current state.