HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Grizzlies engaged the Minnesota Timberwolves in trade talks last week about acquiring guard Wayne Ellington. Memphis would send forward Dante Cunningham in the proposed deal but nothing has been finalized. "The shoe will drop this week or it won't get done," a source with knowledge of the trade discussions told The Commercial Appeal this morning. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Wayne Ellington, Dante Cunningham 

As reported previously, the Wolves and Grizzlies have a verbal agreement on a Wayne Ellington-Dante Cunningham trade. It'll be made official once the paperwork is sent into the league office. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Wayne Ellington, Dante Cunningham 

Darren Wolfson: Told Ellington to Memphis for Cunningham is just about done. Verbal agreement is in place. Just have to submit paperwork. #Twolves Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Wayne Ellington, Dante Cunningham 

Ronald Tillery: Griz still pursuing Ellington trade with T'wolves. "It'll get done," per source. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Wayne Ellington 

Memphis has interest in Wayne Ellington, Wesley Johnson or Martell Webster – each of whom have reportedly been made available. Ellington likely is the Grizzlies' main target because of his salary. The 6-4 guard will earn a little more than $2 million this season. Johnson will make $4.2 million and Webster’s deal is for $5.7 million. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, Wayne Ellington 

Wayne Ellington on why he threw the ball at Nicolas Batum's backside after garbage time basket at the buzzer: "When you're up like that you're supposed to hold the ball. That's an unwritten rule. I got frustrated with that. He knows. He knows. It's no big deal, though." Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Nicolas Batum, Wayne Ellington 

The San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves are discussing a three-team deal, according to sources close to the situation. Nothing is imminent, but the teams will continue to talk over the next two days. In the rumored deal, the Spurs would acquire Josh Howard, the Timberwolves would acquire C.J. Miles and Jamaal Tinsley and the Jazz would acquire Danny Green and Wayne Ellington. Other players and draft picks will likely be included in the finalized trade. HoopsWorld

Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Josh Howard, Danny Green, Jamaal Tinsley, Wayne Ellington 

In the rumored deal, the Spurs would acquire Josh Howard, the Timberwolves would acquire C.J. Miles and Jamaal Tinsley and the Jazz would acquire Danny Green and Wayne Ellington. Other players and draft picks will likely be included in the finalized trade. Utah holds a $10.9 traded-player exception and San Antonio holds a $854,400 traded-player exception as well. Sources described the talks as ongoing, but stressed that no deal is imminent. HoopsWorld

Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Trade, Josh Howard, Danny Green, Jamaal Tinsley, Wayne Ellington 

In addition to Michael Beasley, who is on the radar for the Lakers, Celtics, Magic and Nets, the Timberwolves are gaging interest in Anthony Tolliver and Wayne Ellington, sources said. CBSSports.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Michael Beasley, Anthony Tolliver, Wayne Ellington 

So he and Wolves teammates Wes Johnson, Anthony Randolph, Anthony Tolliver, Wayne Ellington and Lazar Hayward will play, as will DeMarcus Cousins, Josh Howard, Mario Chalmers and Sam Young. "That's easy," he said when asked how he'll choose teams. "It's going to be Minnesota Timberwolves against everyone else." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Randolph, Michael Beasley, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Tolliver, Josh Howard, Mario Chalmers, Marcus Cousin, Wayne Ellington, Sam Young 

They can't get into Target Center these days, so NBA stars John Wall, Joakim Noah and DeMarcus Cousins are among those expected to play in Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley's "All Star Classic" at Osseo High School -- of all places -- next week. Beasley's Wolves teammates Derrick Williams, Wes Johnson, Martell Webster, Wayne Ellington and former Wolf Sebastian Telfair are scheduled to play as well in the Friday night, Oct. 21 exhibition game. So, too, are Boston's Jeff Green, Detroit's Greg Monroe, L.A. Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, Chicago's Keith Bogans and Beasley's longtime pal, former Dukie Nolan Smith. Missing from the list -- at least for now -- is childhood buddy Kevin Durant. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Greg Monroe, Martell Webster, Lockout, Keith Bogans, Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, Sebastian Telfair, Marcus Cousin, Wayne Ellington, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Williams, Nolan Smith 

Now a forward with the Phoenix Suns, Warrick said he had no trouble finding players to take part in the game, as he quickly assembled a Team Philly roster of Marcus and Markieff Morris, John Salmons and Wayne Ellington among others. The Philadelphia roster is set, Warrick said, but the team has yet to appoint a coach. “I didn’t have to sell it at all, it came to a point where I was hoping that some people would turn me down because we we’re getting too many people,” said Warrick. “It wasn’t a tough sell to go out there and play for your city. For a lot of these guys that grew up in the Philadelphia-area, basketball is a big thing, and you don’t want to get embarrassed.” Philadelphia Inquirer

John Salmons, Hakim Warrick, Wayne Ellington, Markieff Morris 

The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up contract options for swingman Wes Johnson, guard Wayne Ellington and forward Lazar Hayward. The moves Wednesday include third-year options for Johnson and Hayward and the fourth year for Ellington. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Wes Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Lazar Hayward 

As expected, the Timberwolves today exercised 2011-12 contract options on Kevin Love, Micheal Beasley, Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington and Kosta Koufos. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jonny Flynn, Michael Beasley, Kosta Koufos, Kevin Love, Wayne Ellington 

Jonah Ballow: Wayne Ellington will start at SG for the #Twolves tonight - tipoff at 7 PM Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Wayne Ellington 

After Ellington scored 22 points Sunday night in the Wolves' 114-109 exhibition victory over Milwaukee in Sioux Falls, S.D., Wolves coach Kurt Rambis called himself "dumb" on Monday for not giving the second-year player more minutes in the first five exhibition games. Sunday's game was the first preseason start for Ellington, who made all three of his three-point shots in the fourth quarter. "His dumb coach hasn't given him the amount of time to show what he can do out there," Rambis said. "What we saw him do as a starter and in the late-game situations, that's the way he's been playing in practice. He's been playing very well. I just haven't given him the time." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kurt Rambis, Wayne Ellington