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Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman usually is a man of few words, and he becomes one of even fewer still when asked if second-year forward Derrick Williams is better prepared now than he was two months ago to seize opportunity. "He better be," Adelman said. "I mean, he better be." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Rick Adelman, Derrick Williams 

They have not signed anyone since waiving injured Josh Howard on Thursday and will continue auditions after Christmas before they sign a free agent such as former Wolves forward Lazar Hayward, James Anderson, Shaun Livingston or perhaps find a way to get Raja Bell out of exile in Utah in their search to find a wing player, preferably one who can defend. "If you're going to add somebody, you need to add somebody who will have a legitimate chance to help you," Adelman said. "Just to bring a body in ... I'm probably not going to play him, unless we have another injury. We'll play the guys we have." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Rick Adelman 

At the end, Adelman seethed over a series of calls, including a no-call when center Nikola Pekovic grabbed an offensive rebound and missed a contested layup that would have tied the score with 52 seconds left. At the end, he pointed out how officials consulted after the final buzzer to determine if the Knicks were due two more free throws in a game already decided. "I'm glad they got that last call right, and I'm glad they waited five minutes to make sure that the game was over," Adelman said in a terse postgame address that lasted fewer than 30 seconds. "That was good. It really made a big difference, making sure they got that one right. That's all I have to say. I'm not going to get fined, so I'm sorry." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Rick Adelman 

Taylor and Kahn declined to comment Wednesday. When asked about his conversation with Love, Adelman said: "I'm not even going to get into that. The most important thing for me is to get this team to move forward. We have a lot of issues, with Ricky [Rubio's] situation and [Brandon Roy's] situation, the most important thing for me is pretty much what I said to him: We've got to move on, we've got to get ourselves together as a team and go from there. To me, it's past history." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

There apparently was an urgent reaction from the organization about it because Love met with David Kahn and Rick Adelman on Tuesday shortly after the story hit the Web and Love said he plans to talk to owner Glen Taylor about his comments. "I meant what I said, I told David there's nothing to apologize about," Love said. "The only thing I was sorry about is that I did in public and if there's a learning expereince from that, it's not to do that again. "A lot of athletes these days say the right thing and aren't outspoken. I happen to be in this article. I'm not going to go forward and say I have anything to apologize about. I said what I felt. I didn't mean to alienate my team, my coaches, the organization or more importantly the fans...I said a lot of things about the team and were we're at this point and I'll continue to say it throughout the year because that's how I feel." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, David Kahn, Kevin Love, Glen Taylor, Rick Adelman 

The team says he will miss a month. Coach Rick Adelman on Tuesday said he expects the surgery will be only a detour in Roy's comeback road, not the end of it. "I think it may sound funny but I think in some ways it's good that they found some things because he was complaining about that, that he felt something wasn't quite right," Adelman said. "So hopefully if he can clean that up and he can get back on the floor, he'll feel better than when he decided to do this. I think it can be a positive. I think we'll know a lot more where he's going two, three weeks down the road. "I think he feels good. He knew something wasn't quite right and apparently it wasn't." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Brandon Roy, Rick Adelman 

Adelman said there have been internal discussions about whom the team might add. That list likely includes free-agent wings Mikael Pietrus, Josh Howard and Chris Douglas-Roberts along with Utah's Raja Bell, who has been exiled from the Jazz. "I couldn't even tell you," Adelman said when asked about getting an injury exemption. "We're just trying to get through this game. I haven't even asked about that." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Raja Bell, Mickael Pietrus, Josh Howard, Rick Adelman 

Joan Niesen: Rick Adelman on Barea's flop: “The play they’re talking about, the guy hit him in the face and got called for a foul. I don’t understand." Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea, Rick Adelman 

Rubio and Love traveled with the team on this two-game trip that ends Monday in Brooklyn and are expected to continue to travel until each returns. They came back to the locker room side by side, drenched in sweat, after a vigorous pregame workout. "They need to be around the team, I just think they can help our guys, talking to them," coach Rick Adelman said. "The more you're around the team, when they do come back, it's a seamless transition. We're trying to get this team together. The more they get used to each other, the better it's going to be." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

Taylor is willing to add payroll if Kahn and coach Rick Adelman sell him on a free agent. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Trade, David Kahn, Glen Taylor, Rick Adelman 

Meanwhile, in yet more dark humor, Adelman was asked about knuckle pushups. “I think that should be taken out of the repertoire for sure,” he said. “In fact, all pushups. Anything to do with the hand.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Injuries, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

Wolves coach Rick Adelman pretty much exiled Milicic after he was injured about one-third of the way through last season, and he rarely saw court time, even when center Nikola Pekovic had his assortment of ankle problems. Adelman thought Darko was out of shape, among other things. Milicic said he didn't know what was going on. "I was trying to find answers," Milicic told CSN New England. "[Nikola] Pekovic, he started playing well. I wasn't asking about starting. I wanted to ask about why I wasn't playing at all. I hear a lot of this and that . . . I was like, 'If you guys going to fool around and make excuses' . . . we kind of separated from each other." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic, Rick Adelman 

But most of the Wolves-related headlines concerned [GM David] Kahn’s persistent attempts to upgrade the talent on the roster. Behind the scenes, as promised, Adelman was providing input and helping with the decisions. “Most of the moves David is making are heavily influenced by what Rick has asked of us. But when it comes to finances, David will tell Rick no,” Taylor reveals. “At the end of the year, Rick gives me a report of what he thinks of each player. He tells me it’s the same one he gave David and that David knows he is giving it to me. Then he goes through the list. He says, ‘This is the first one I want gone’—that was [underachieving veteran center] Darko [Milicic]. ‘This is the second one I want gone. This is what I think of this player.’ “ NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, David Kahn, Glen Taylor, Rick Adelman 

Speaking from Russia on Thursday, new Timberwolves forward Andrei Kirilenko listed the reasons -- beyond $10 million a season, of course --why he chose to resume his NBA career in Minnesota. "It's very flattering when the G.M., the coach, players are calling you and saying, 'We need you, we need your experience,''' he said of a courtship process that included numerous telephone calls as well as $20 million guaranteed over the next two seasons if Kirilenko wants it. He also called himself a fan of Wolves coach Rick Adelman, dating to his seasons in Sacramento a decade ago. "That Sacamento team was one of my favorite ones: A lot of Europeans, great flavor for the game," he said from Moscow after participating in the NBA's "Basketball Without Borders" camp intended to grow the game worldwide. "I said, 'Wow, I really have the chance to play for a coach with a team-oriented system, kind of like they play in European basketball." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Rick Adelman, Andrei Kirilneko 

Andrei Kirilenko states that Rick Adelman’s game is very similiar to European basketball, he admired the play of Sacramento Kings back in the days under Adelman with Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic and he believes that kind of playing style is ideal for him. 31 years old forward is also excited about his former team mates in Minnesota, he says Kevin Love has become a superstar and Ricky Rubio showed a lot of promise before getting injured last season. When asked about if he feels responsible about Alexey Shved as the Russian player will be a rookie this season with Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko said: “I think he has a good chance and potential to be an essential part of this team but I can not go out there and play for him even if I wanted to. In my opinion you need three things to be succesful in the NBA: 1.Confidence of your coach, 2.Performance and 3. Good Luck. You need to join the right team, with the right role, with the right coach and at the right time. For my part I will do my best to help him adapt as quickly as possible and focus on basketball.” TrendBasket

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Andrei Kirilenko, Rick Adelman, Alexey Shved 

Julien Deschuyteneer: "I've always liked Rick Adelman since Sacramento when I came into the league. His team had a very European flavor" Andrei Kirilenko #JO2012 Twitter

Houston Rockets, Andrei Kirilenko, Rick Adelman 

Jerry Zgoda: Adelman on Batum: "He's perfect fit for our team. He can guard 1, 2, 3. He can make outside shots. It was good intent. Wish it'd get over w/ Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Nicolas Batum, Rick Adelman 

Jerry Zgoda: Adelman says Bayno worked out B-Roy in L.A. "It's kind of like you're rolling the dice...but he would help us so much at end of game." Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Brandon Roy, Bill Bayno, Rick Adelman 

Jon Krawczynski: Ndiaye: Batum "had a great feel with coach Rick Adelman and Nicolas thinks this is a system that will fit him." #Twolves Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Nicolas Batum, Rick Adelman 

Darren Wolfson: Taylor, Kahn, Adelman, and a trainer met with Roy, his agent, and one of Roy's close friends in Seattle last Friday. #Twolves Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, David Kahn, Brandon Roy, Owners, Glen Taylor, Rick Adelman