Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 Centers That Could Affect the 2011 NBA Season
The 2010 NBA season has been a disappointment of sorts for Minnesota Timberwolves fans, but at the least there is a ton of promise for this team.
Starting power forward Kevin Love has taken his play to the next level, becoming an All-Star and now the face of the franchise. Small forward Michael Beasley has been a great steal from the Miami Heat as he has stepped up his play since last year, averaging 19 points and 5.6 rebounds per game (this is misconstrued because Love hauls down most of the rebounds for Minnesota).
The potential superstars are there for Minnesota in Love and Beasley. What the team lacks is a great point guard and a true presence at center. The point guard can be found in former lottery pick Ricky Rubio (if he ever comes overseas) or by drafting Kyrie Irving in the upcoming draft.
The center position is a different story, it seems. Darko Milicic has had a resurgent season and he has played well for Minnesota, averaging nine points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks a game. But is he going to be the player that can shut down opposing centers with his defense or dominate in the paint? Probably not, and that is what the Wolves need most from a center.
Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers):
Unfortunately for Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers, he hasn't been able to stay healthy ever since he was selected first overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. Oden has had micro-fracture surgery on both of his knees and has recovered from a broken left patella. These injuries came out of the blue but definitely impaired Oden from becoming a great player in Portland.
This summer, Oden becomes a restricted free agent. This means he is free to test the market and sign with another team, but the Blazers will have the right to match any offer. It will be interesting to see if the Blazers let him go, but it is possible they do because they have LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby on roster.
The Timberwolves would be ignorant not to try to sign Oden. If he could get healthy and stay healthy, which is a possibility before next season, he could be a dominant center next to Love. He has unbelievable shot-blocking ability, takes high-percentage shots and sucks up rebounds like a vacuum. He would also bring great size to the Timberwolves, being that he's 7'0" tall and weighs 285 pounds.
General manager David Kahn has brought in many reclamation projects (Sebastian Telfair, Darko Milicic, Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph, etc.) so for this to happen wouldn't be much of a surprise. A frontcourt consisting of Oden, Love, and Beasley would be special in that they are very talented and still under 24 years of age.
After missing most of the 2010 NBA season due to a stress fracture in his left ankle, Yao Ming will become a free agent this offseason. There is a good chance that Yao will be healthy by next season as the rehabbing process is going well (he's now off crutches). He will definitely draw interest from other teams in the league, but Yao has made it known that he would prefer to stay with the Rockets.
"I like it here. I’m used to playing here,” he said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I’m comfortable, really, really comfortable to play here, and I have my family here. I’m not really planning to leave."
What a player wants and what an organization does, though, are not always the same. Houston's front office would most likely love to bring him back, but at the right price. It's possible that the Rockets decide to go in a different direction with their money and continue to use Chuck Hayes at center.
If the Timberwolves and David Kahn were to sign Yao, it would add a much-needed veteran to the team, not to mention an eight-time All-Star. Yao is the total package. He has great size at 7'6", soft touch on his shots, above-average mid-range game, good interior defense, underrated passing ability and he can also knock down free throws.
Pairing Yao with Kevin Love would create one of the best center/power forward tandems in the league. They won't beat teams with their athleticism, but more so with their finely-tuned post moves and intelligence.
Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks):
Tyson Chandler isn't a superstar by any means, but he is a very solid player that every team needs on the roster. Chandler is the guy that does the dirty work in the paint by boxing out, snatching down difficult rebounds or putting back missed shots.
He's having a very good season with Dallas and it's questionable if Minnesota could pry him away, but money talks to NBA players, so it is possible. Chandler would definitely make Love look better, in that Chandler would be challenging every player near the rim while Love does what Love does best, and that's pull in the rebound.
Chandler has good size with his 7'1" height and long arms. Chandler has the defensive mind every center should have. He doesn't make ignorant fouls and plays intelligent defense whenever he's on the floor. With Chandler, you get somewhere near 10 points and 10 rebounds a game, but it's his play on defense that Minnesota would be paying for.
Minnesota has a potent offense; it's defense that is the problem. Milicic is a good shot blocker but gets beat by simple post moves. Love is an average defender but lacks the athleticism to be a shut-down defender. Beasley isn't a great defender either, but at least he has the athleticism to make up for it, and he never gives up on a play.
Chandler will become a free agent after this season and he has the tenacity and defense Minnesota needs. Kahn should try to sign him and continue the push for the playoffs
