By Anthony Maggio
FOXSportsNorth.com
February 22, 2011
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks both kicked off the post-All-Star game portions of their schedules on Tuesday, but considering their combined records it perhaps shouldn't come as much surprise that the biggest news of the night came off the court.
Those NBA fans who were tired of hearing the daily "updates" on Carmelo Anthony's future were finally granted unfinalized reprieve in the late hours Monday and certified clemency on Tuesday when a three-team trade involving the Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks was made official.
Minnesota's prize was little-used 6-foot-11 forward Anthony Randolph, who came along with the expiring $11.3 million contract of Eddy Curry, and cash from the Knicks, and an unprotected second round draft pick from the Nuggets in 2015 in the deal. The Wolves sent swingman Corey Brewer to New York and little-used center Kosta Koufos to Denver to complete the trade.
"As far back as April or May we felt he was someone worthy of pursuing," President of Basketball Operations David Kahn said. "When it developed he wasn't' playing I started calling (Knicks General Manager Donnie Walsh) to determine if he could be obtained and was rebuffed until the last two or three weeks."
At that point, the Wolves came on board as a facilitator for New York and Denver to get Anthony in his desired location. Kahn said he made it clear that Minnesota wouldn't part with a draft pick to make the move happen, but Brewer was expendable in part because of his desire to play more of a central role.
With a glut of wing players, Brewer not necessarily a good fit as a primary NBA swingman, and the former lottery pick's upcoming restricted free agency, Brewer was Kahn's most moveable asset. He leaves Minnesota with career averages of 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
"He's prone to make a very big play from time to time, but it's very hard in this league to have a prominent role in this league on a team when your shot and ball-handling aren't at an elite level," Kahn said. "It puts pressure on the team when he's out there and can cause problems from time to time."
The trade also makes sense for Minnesota in that Randolph is the type of long and athletic player that Kahn and coach Kurt Rambis desire. At 21 years old, he's also got a high ceiling and at best could compare to a Lamar Odom type of player.
However, despite his youth and talent, Randolph has already overstayed his welcome under both Don Nelson in Golden State and Mike D'Antoni in New York
