The Timberwolves have Officially Reached the Rebuilding Stage
What took them so long?
Back in the early 2000s the Minnesota Timerberwolves showed some promise. They surrounded Kevin Garnett with Sprewell and Cassell and the Wolves made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2004 (only to lose to the Lakers). Following their trip to the WCF, the Wolves imploded. Cassell was eventually traded to the Clippers; Sprewell soon left for retirement; but Garnett remained and remained and was surrounded by a disappointing lack of talent.
This summer the Wolves traded KG to the Celtics, signaling that they were about to embark on one of two future routes: try to rebuild around a new nucleus, or blow everything up, clear off expensive contracts, and trade for future draft picks. Today they made it crystal clear that they're blowing the whole thing up as they traded Ricky Davis and Mark Blount to the Miami Heat for Antoine Walker, expiring contracts, and a future first round draft pick.
Poor Antoine Walker. He had such promise and hopes at the start of his career. Sure, he was streaky, but when he was hot, he was hot, and he helped lead the Boston Celtics to some impressive playoff appearances. And then he was traded to the Mavericks, where he was unimpressive. Then off to the Atlanta Hawks for a year, then back to Boston, and finally with Miami, where he (somewhat) helped win a championship. And now, after coming back to training camp horrendously out of shape, he is being shipped to the frigid north where he will likely end his career playing for a team that will be happy to win 25 games.
(The picture of Antoine Walker was taken from www.Need4Sheed.com, a Pistons fan site...)