Enhanced/html/rosters/roster16.htm
Well, almost.
So how did we get here? How did a team from the West Coast magically rocket across the country before next year’s season? Well, we asked GMs, current players, former players, and coaches to get the full story about a franchise move that sent shockwaves through the PBSL landscape.
FROM BOATS TO FANGS: THE TIMBERWOLVES MOVE COVERED FROM ALL ANGLES
Part 1: The Beginning
The JNR (Timberwolves GM/coach/yoga instructor): This wasn’t supposed to happen. Or at least it wasn’t supposed to happen this quickly. I was happy in San Diego. We all were. Reggie Theus (former Clipper): We were miserable in San Diego man. It’s gorgeous, but the facilities are so tiny. I didn’t realize until after I got to Atlanta, but the actual basketball infrastructure in SD was awful, man.
The JNR: Was ownership skimping on facilities? Hot showers and the like? Yeah, maybe, but we were in San Diego, baby! The beach is right there. Just go surfing or something.
Reggie Lewis (Timberwolves shooting guard): I broke my leg last year. It was the hardest year of my life. But when I went to the trainers to get it looked at, they just said “oh, that’s fine, sprinkle some points on that baby. As long as we earn some, anyway.” I did get better, but it felt weird. Like they were more concerned about saving money than making their players better.
The JNR: Ownership and I struggled on this daily. I wanted more for the players, but I understand it’s a business. And San Diego is gorgeous. There’s a reason I chose it when we started the league.
Reggie Theus: Bro just loved the Zoo, man. He was at the Zoo every day.
Daryl Dawkins (former Clipper): He would come into practice with all these weird animal facts, and try to relate it to our opponent. Like “mountain goats have rectangular pupils. You have to be able to look in all directions to be ready for the Lakers.” Now tell me that shit makes any sense.
Rolando Blackman (former Clipper): I was so glad when my agent called me and said I got traded to Houston. Their zoo is smaller, but at least my GM now doesn’t go there every day.
The JNR: It’s no secret that the team was struggling. We had two years in a row where we didn’t get to 15 wins. I had traded Reggie, Rolando, Rod Higgins, and the guys we brought in were struggling to get going. If I’m being honest, I was losing a bit of my enthusiasm too. It’s hard to be excited when you’re losing by 30 to the Trailblazers.
Wig Nosy (Trailblazers GM): Meow.
Chris Dudley (Timberwolves center): Everyone seemed really checked out in San Diego. Players, coaches, staff, the lady who takes tickets…no one was excited about their job. Something had to change.
Part 2: The Rumors
Reggie Theus: I’d heard those rumblings for a while, man. Probably as soon as I got drafted. “The team won’t be in San Diego long,” they said. But where to? That answer changed daily.Rod Higgins (former Clipper): I always heard LA. There was this old guy who wanted to buy the team, a real racist son of a bitch. He said he’d buy the team and move them to Los Angeles.
The JNR: Oh yeah, that guy. What a jerk. I’m glad he didn’t get the team. I bet if you recorded that guy in private conversations you’d hear the most awful things.
Reggie Theus: LA, yeah, but also Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Nashville, St. Louis…every day it was a new city. It was hard to keep track of.
Reggie Lewis: I remember when I got traded here, I walked in and one of the coaches was like, “don’t get used to it, kid.” I thought he meant my spot on the team, but he meant the city itself. No one ever thought San Diego was a long term destination.
Alex English (former Clipper): I remember asking The JNR about the rumors and he tried to downplay them. He said he didn’t want to leave, and he’d fight it if it ever came to it. He loved the city too much, and that god damn zoo. I wonder what happened.
Chris Dudley: I can tell you what happened. Nick Malone happened.
Reggie Lewis: In comes a new team to the league from Charlotte. Expansion happens, and from then on The JNR started changing his tune about moving. He must have seen the cities who were up for the expansion list somewhere, and one caught his eye. Minneapolis.
Reggie Theus: I wonder how their zoo is (laughing).
Chug Tassblock (multi-dimensional timeline expert): It has nothing to do with the zoo, and everything to do with the original PBSL league that started in the year 1990. That version of The JNR ran the Timberwolves for 60 years. The bond must have been so strong that this version of The JNR couldn’t ignore it.
The JNR: What did that guy say? What? Why did you even interview him? He sounds crazy. I just like Minnesota. It’s beautiful, and after visiting and seeing their arena plans, I was in.
Part 3: The Move
The JNR: It happened really suddenly.Reggie Lewis: Just during this offseason. I was getting ready to go home for the summer and they told me to report to Minneapolis to see the new facilities. I was confused, and they told me to “refresh the index,” whatever that means.
The JNR: I talked to league offices and they said the move could be processed in a day. That floored me. I thought we’d need meetings with the San Diego city council, with taxpayers in Minneapolis, with someone more than just the commissioner. He was like “yep, you’re the Timberwolves now.” I was pretty shocked. I didn’t even pick the name. They just said Minnesota Clippers sounded terrible.
Rod Strickland (former Clipper/Timberwolf): The draft had started and we were still the San Diego Clippers. When we won the lottery and drafted David Robinson, we were the Clippers. And then a few picks later they told me that I was going to Washington and Tim Hardaway was going…to Minnesota. It was really odd.
Tim Hardaway (Timberwolves point guard): It felt simultaneous. I was traded and I’m a Timberwolf. I had about a second or two to get excited about going to San Diego before being told that no, I was going to cold ass Minnesota. I’m sure it’ll be great, but I’ll always have those five seconds in San Diego.
The JNR: By the end of the draft and start of RFA, we were the Minnesota Timberwolves. It still says our team offices are in San Diego, and that’s okay. We can still go back every once in a while.
Reggie Theus: I bet his zoo season pass doesn’t expire until September.
Part 4: What’s Next
The JNR: It’s kind of exciting being here for a brand new chapter. It’s a new era too: after the Reggie Theus era in San Diego, we now get to start the David Robinson and Tim Hardaway era in Minnesota. Reggie Theus: I wish them luck. Do I want to a sign a contract to play there? No, man, I’m cool. I’ll go find somewhere warmer to play.
Rod Strickland: I was looking forward to being the new era of the Clippers team to make the playoffs, but I guess I have a lot to look forward to in Washington. After all, my team just signed like 73 players.
Reggie Lewis: It’s nice here. I’m really excited to get started.
Ron Harper (Former Clipper/Timberwolf): I was excited to go to Minnesota. They have a really nice arena, great facilities. But then they traded me to the three time champs? Peace out, Minny. Don't freeze.
Chris Dudley: They told me they had a chance to trade me for Charles Barkley but wanted to keep me in Minnesota. I’m going to work hard to make sure they don’t regret that decision.
David Robinson (Timberwolves center): This feels poetic. Being drafted number 1 and getting to start off a new team in a new city. It’s an honor, and I can’t wait to get started.
Charles Barkley (Timberwolves power forward): It’s Fryeing cold here.
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