Wolves Hudson to become a free agent

He has missed, in three separate stints, a total of 45 games because of a badly sprained right ankle. His stats are down across the board from what was, a year ago, his breakthrough season. After turning his left ankle on consecutive plays in the 94-88 victory over Houston on Monday, Timberwolves guard Troy Hudson couldn't even limp properly, and he likely won't heal completely until sometime in July.

Still, that probably won't dissuade him from testing free agency this summer.

Hudson holds the option on a $2.8 million contract for next season but his agent, Bill Neff, said Monday that Hudson almost certainly will not exercise it. That would make him an unrestricted free agent, able to re-sign with the Wolves or any of the NBA's other 29 teams (Charlotte will be up and running by then).

"That doesn't mean you leave," Neff said. "That means you think you can do better than a one-year, [$2.8] million contract."

Given that one of Neff's clients, journeyman guard Kevin Ollie, signed a five-year, $15 million deal with Cleveland last summer, and that teams routinely guarantee more than Hudson's salary to untested rookies, the agent believed Hudson's value -- even after this injury-marred season -- would be high. It won't hurt, either, that the upcoming crop of available point guards will fade quickly after Steve Nash (who has a similar option with Dallas) and maybe Rafer Alston.

"Does that mean he leaves Minnesota? Absolutely not," Neff said. "When we did this contract, Rob Babcock and Kevin McHale felt he would be opting out. I think Kevin's words were, 'If you are not opting out, we're all going to be disappointed.' They expected it."

Via Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Wolves chasing defensive intensity

To say that Minnesota were disappointed with their defensive efforts against the San Antonio Spurs would be an understatement, and today the Wolves have the opportunity to prove things have changed in the past few days.

The Wolves appear to have found the same page in coach Flip Saunders' playbook. Part of it could be credited to Saunders having tightened up the rotation, in some ways through necessity because of Troy Hudson's bad ankle. And Wally Szczerbiak has started finding both his range and his confidence.

"We've got a little bit of our swagger back," Saunders said after Monday's practice.

"The last two games our defense has been very, very good," Saunders said. "That's been a positive. We've had a lot of help . . . we've protected in the paint."

That was not the case in San Antonio.

The Spurs outscored the Wolves 48-26 in the paint. The Spurs shot 48.1 percent from the field. Perhaps the best statistic showing the Wolves' lack of defensive intensity is that they managed zero steals.

But in the two games since, the Wolves forced both Phoenix (38.1 percent) and Denver (30.9) to shoot poorly.

"We didn't play that well against San Antonio defensively," Wolves forward Kevin Garnett said. "We had a meeting about it. Really, we got down to the logistics of it. I think in Phoenix we did a better job, and it carried over [against Denver]. We have to continue to do the things we've been doing of late. . . . What you're starting to see -- knock on wood -- we're starting to find our stroke a little bit. Defensively, we're on the same page consistently. We have nice momentum now. It's important to keep carrying it on."

Via Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Garnett undecided on Olympic team offer

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Kevin Garnett has not decided whether he will join the U.S. Olympic basketball team for this summer's games in Athens.

Two sources close to the USA Basketball selection committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal have been invited to play for the U.S. Olympic team.

``I haven't given it any thought, to tell you the truth,'' Garnett said Thursday night after his Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the San Antonio Spurs 106-86.

Asked when he will decide, Garnett said, ``I have no timeline. I'm focused on the season and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Right now, my focus is the Phoenix Suns.''

Minnesota plays the Suns on Friday night in Phoenix.

Garnett played on the 2000 Olympic team that won the gold medal in Sydney, Australia.

O'Neal said this week he has been asked to join the team, but has not yet made a decision.

One more spot remains open on the 12-man roster, and a second could open if Kobe Bryant is unable to play because of his sexual assault trial in Colorado.

A third member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Karl Malone, has said he might withdraw from the team if his knee isn't 100 percent.

Selection committee chairman Stu Jackson acknowledged that two invitations had been issued, though he wouldn't specify who had been chosen.

Jackson also confirmed that Cleveland Cavaliers rookie LeBron James is among a group of seven or eight players being discussed by the committee for the final roster spot.

Nine roster spots have already been filled on the team that will be coached by Larry Brown. The players are Bryant, Malone, Jermaine O'Neal, Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby, Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen and Tim Duncan.

The team opens training camp July 26 and plays its first game of the Olympics on Aug. 15.

Via Associated Press

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