Wolves looking at other options to complete roster as deal with Anthony Tolliver hangs in the balance
It is no secret that the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for a big man to add to the roster as their back-up for next season, and have been looking for one since free agency began.
The Wolves underwent a serious roster upgrade this summer, adding Russian forward Andrei Kirilenko and former Portland Trail Blazers player Brandon Roy to the team. With Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio already in the roster, the Wolves
are looking like a solid team for next season.
They are now busy making the finishing touches on the roster, and feel another centre would help balance it out.
The Wolves have shown interest in Anthony Tolliver and have worked him out as well. However, Tolliver has refused to sign on for the league minimum, and the Wolves have even considered shopping a guard to clear some cap space so
that they can offer Tolliver more than what they are offering now.
Tolliver, in an attempt to strong-arm the Wolves front office, leaked the names of all five teams interested in him through his representation. The Wolves, in return, have started looking at other possibilities in case the deal
with Anthony does not work out.
According to Hoopsworld, Hassan Whiteside is one of the players they are set to try out in the coming days.
“Whiteside has been working out with former NBA guard John Lucas in Texas this summer and is set on trying to land a roster spot for the 2013 season. Whiteside tells HOOPSWORLD in this interview he has a work out with the Minnesota
Timberwolves set for this week,” reported Hoopsworld.
It seems as if Tolliver’s plan may have backfired, as the Wolves are willing to play that game with him. Are the Wolves bluffing to pressure Tolliver into signing for the minimum, or is it just a response to Tolliver leaking names
of teams that are interested in him.
Either way, this is all part of free agency negotiations, and common in the NBA of today. The Wolves will get a huge boost if Tolliver decides to sign on for next season, but everything is up in the air as of now.
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