Howlin' T-Wolf

Inevitably enough, Big Al is gone and the Wolves’ roster is in flux. After all, David Kahn did say that our roster situation this summer was “fluid.”

This summer has proved to be worth the hype. The results? Not so great. But things aren’t quite complete yet. The roster is, again, in flux and Kahn has shown the ability to tweak it to his liking.

First he drafted Wes Johnson, Lazar Hayward and some international prospects to satisfy Tony Ronzone. Then he traded for Martell Webster, a league veteran only 23 years old. Kahn then joined the Lebron sweepstakes and traded Pat Riley and the heat his dinner for a former 2nd overall pick in Michael Beasley. And finally, Kahn completed maybe his biggest deal yet as Wolves GM by trading Al Jefferson, arguably the team’s best player, to division rival Utah Jazz for future first rounders and salary cap relief.

Things have been busy to say the least, but the overall consensus of all of these moves is unknown. Once the Wolves seem to take a step in the right direction that coincides with Kahn’s plan of the ultimate run-and-gun team headed by Ricky Rubio in 2011, it seems inevitable that they take a step back by making a move that deems questionable at best. It is the Timberwolves after all; we can’t get everything right.

The draft: good move, nabbing Martell Webster: bad move (I think Brewer is just as valuable and way cheaper)

Trading for Beasley: good move, trading our best player, Big Al: bad move.

Like I said, a good move then a bad move, and so on. Speculation and rumors have been brewing all summer long, but nothing has been finalized. The question now lays in the hands of fate: Will things always be brewing and never become infused? Or will Kahn’s plan start to take shape and we for once take two steps forward; not one forward, and one back.

Kahn keeps taking steps towards the (blank) direction and no one knows where we will land. One move makes things look bright and encouraging only to take a backseat to a darker, more bleak move that seems to doom the franchise.

Big Al’s trade may not be on that dooming level of severity but it wasn’t a win-win for both squads. We didn’t get a player in return, which many had hoped, but that’s what we get for frantically shopping around Big Al, sending messages to other teams that we need to unload him rather than want to. We did achieve some cap flexibility and draft picks, which serve well in the future, but this team needs to turn around this year; not next.

I’m all for Kahn’s logic of building for the future; it provides financial security as well as some young talent on the court. But one has to question when to say “Ok, the future is now.” I’m not so sure that Kahn has that in him, but we’ll see because that decision needs to come very soon.

The next set of moves in Kahn’s arsenal need to address improving this season’s team. Signing Luke Ridnour may help, or further complicate this already mind-boggling offseason, who knows. But it does open more opportunities. The possibilities are nearly endless for the Wolves with their expendable roster and boatload of assets. Sometimes I just wish I were a fan of some team way above the luxury tax because they don’t have to rely on the unforeseeable future as means of their success. But on the other hand, we have a brighter future. It all comes down to how we approach it.