HoopsHype.com Rumors

New Timberwolves boss Flip Saunders went to work Wednesday, reshaping his front office by firing five scouts when he wasn’t holding all-day meetings with coach Rick Adelman. Saunders fired scouts who were working without a contract or whose contract was due to expire this summer and retained scouts who have years remaining on their contracts. Gone are international scouting director Pete Philo, regional scouts J.T. Prada, Curtis Crawford and Steve Gordon and special-assignment scout Will Conroy. Regional scouts Milt Barnes, who briefly was an assistant coach alongside Saunders with the Gophers in the mid-1980s, and Derek Pierce will remain. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Flip Saunders, Will Conroy, Steve Gordon, Pete Philo, Curtis Crawford, JT Prada, Milt Barnes, Derek Pierce 

Flip Saunders has started the restructuring expected when he took over as Minnesota Timberwolves president last week. Saunders fired international scouting coordinator Pete Philo, regional scout Curtis Crawford and Will Conroy on Tuesday. The moves were made as Saunders clears room to get a staff together for next month's draft. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Flip Saunders, Will Conroy, Pete Philo, Curtis Crawford 

Will Conroy is back in town, doing scouting work for David Kahn and the Minnesota front office. His first assignment is some D-League scouting, and he will work on several other projects before returning to Washington in April to finish his undergraduate degree. NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, David Kahn, Will Conroy 

Team and league sources confirm that former point guard Will Conroy, who appeared in four games for the Wolves in November and scored one point, will join the front office. Conroy, 30, is not retiring, the sources say. He's just putting his playing career temporarily on hold. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Will Conroy 

Ray Richardson: T Wolves PR says Will Conroy has been released to make room for Josh Howard Twitter @Twolvesnow

Minnesota Timberwolves, Josh Howard, Will Conroy 

Darren Wolfson: At a luncheon, so sorry if this is out: Conroy told he has been let go. #twolves Twitter @DarrenWolfson

Minnesota Timberwolves, Will Conroy 

The Wolves, as expected, waived training-camp invitees center Chris Johnson and forward Mike Harris by today's deadline to set their season-opening roster. That gets them down to the maximum 15 players, and it means former D Leaguer Will Conroy will start the season with the team as an extra point guard. The Wolves have 14 players with guaranteed contracts, so all 14 were certain to make the final roster. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Chris Johnson, Mike Harris, Will Conroy 

A source close to Conroy is convinced he'll stick on the opening night roster because of his $100,000 guarantee. Conroy will become expendable when point guard Ricky Rubio is back in December. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Will Conroy 

Free-agent point guard Will Conroy can take as much credit as anyone for Brandon Roy, his childhood friend, coming out of retirement and signing with the Timberwolves. Conroy convinced Roy he still could play in the NBA after they started working out together in March in their hometown of Seattle. Conroy is close to Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn, who asked Conroy to put in a few words for him when Roy was attracting interest from other NBA teams. "I told Brandon I know Kahn and he's trying to change the culture in Minnesota," Conroy said Tuesday, Oct. 9, after the Wolves' practice at Target Center. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, David Kahn, Brandon Roy, Will Conroy 

Conroy is battling for the Wolves' final roster spot with the other five invited free agents: shooting guards Jermaine Taylor (Central Florida) and Seth Tarver (Oregon State), forwards Mike Harris (Rice) and Phil Jones (North Carolina Charlotte), and center Chris Johnson (Louisiana State). As much as Conroy motivated Roy during his comeback attempt, Roy is doing the same for Conroy, telling him not to worry about "making the roster but keep playing as well as you can." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, David Kahn, Brandon Roy, Will Conroy 

Getting a playmaking veteran with prototypical size at shooting guard was a priority for the Timberwolves entering the offseason. Wes Johnson had difficulty handling the ball and was traded to Phoenix, leaving Adelman with undersized point guards Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea and Russian import Alexey Shved as the main options alongside Ricky Rubio in the backcourt. "He was actually the one that kind of helped me talk to David Kahn and get that relationship," Roy said of Conroy. "He just really enjoyed the team. He said Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio were all good players. So when I told him I was going to come back, he thought Minnesota was a team I'd fit good with." Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brandon Roy, Will Conroy 

Twolves sign six plyrs to complete tc roster: Will Conroy, Mike Harris, Chris Johnson, Phil Jones, Seth Tarver & Jermaine Taylor. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Chris Johnson, Seth Tarver, Mike Harris, Jermaine Taylor, Will Conroy, Training Camp, Phil Jones 

The Wolves signed D League point guard Will Conroy to a partially guaranteed contract. Conroy is one of Roy's best friends but Roy said it's not a package deal. He said Conroy helped talk him into considering the Wolves after they had Conroy in training camp last December. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Will Conroy, Training Camp 

Will Conroy: Can't wait to join my bro b-roy out in Minnesota. #twolves Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Brandon Roy, Will Conroy 

Darren Wolfson: After checking, Will Conroy's #Twolves deal calls for a partial guarantee. He'll be here starting on Friday for workouts w/ teammates. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Brandon Roy, Will Conroy 

Will Conroy has decided to rejoin the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as he looks to re-cement his role as the top point guard in the D-League after last appearing in training camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves last month. Ridiculous Upside

D-League, Will Conroy 

Jerry Zgoda: Wolves waived free-agent invitees Devean George and Will Conroy today. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Devean George, Will Conroy 

In northeast China, the Liaoning Panpan Hunters officially signed Will Conroy to a deal. Liaoning was the only CBA team to have both of its import spots still open. Liaoning finished fifth last year with a 21-11 record, losing to Shanghai in the playoffs. NiuBBall.com

China, Will Conroy