Timberwolves trade Madsen, Smith, Telfair for Richardson, say it's 'not a precursor' to Rubio deal
Team dumps Madsen, Smith and Telfair to get veteran swingman
By Brian Murphy
brianmurphy@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 07/20/2009 10:58:31 PM CDT
Confronting the Ricky Rubio contract snarl head on in Spain this week, Timberwolves president David Kahn shed three veteran players and their contracts Monday, trading Mark Madsen, Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair to the Los Angeles Clippers for 29-year-old swingman Quentin Richardson.
Kahn explained the deal was more about creating roster and salary cap flexibility than getting Richardson, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who comes to Minnesota three days after the Clippers acquired him from Memphis.
He also cautioned it was "not a precursor of any sort" to an imminent buyout of Rubio's contract with DKV Joventut in Spain.
"I have no feel yet if Ricky will be joining us next season or not," Kahn told reporters in a conference call from New York before flying overseas Monday.
Kahn said he hoped to meet with Rubio, the fifth overall pick in last month's NBA draft, and start dialogue with his Spanish employers about decreasing the reported $6.6 million buyout that threatens to keep the 18-year-old point guard in Europe next season.
"I hope that I can be helpful," he said.
Rubio is still under contract the next two seasons in Spain. He has a $6.6 million buyout clause, of which, according to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, the Wolves can pay only $500,000.
Rubio, who earned less than $100,000 with Joventut last season, would be responsible for the balance.
"We had a phone call last week with members of the club, not the club president," Kahn
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said. "I introduced myself and told them I thought it would be an important step in the process, and I'm hopeful in some small way we can keep it moving forward."
Meanwhile, the trade clears almost $8 million in contracts off the books, with Madsen and Smith's deals scheduled to expire after this season, plus another $2.7 million from Telfair's player option for 2010-11.
"Because of how the point guard situation may evolve, I thought playing time for Sebastian would wane in the next couple of years, and it wouldn't be a positive situation for him," Kahn said.
Telfair announced his trade in a post to his Twitter account.
"I'm going back to Cali. ... I'm a little upset because I love Minnesota but I think I will be happy in L.A. also," he wrote.
Richardson's expiring $9.35 million contract has made him an expensive commodity in three trades since the season ended last month.
After averaging 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 72 games with the New York Knicks, Richardson was traded to Memphis for Darko Milicic on draft night before the Grizzlies sent him to Los Angeles for Zach Randolph on Friday.
Originally selected by the Clippers with the 18th overall pick in 2000, Richardson is a nine-year veteran who has averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds in 601 career games with Los Angeles, Phoenix and New York.
Regarding the ongoing search for a new head coach, Kahn said his overseas trip will delay second interviews with candidates until this weekend and early next week, adding that the process could stretch into August.
"Four or five days lost is not the end of the world, I believe," he said. "I still think we can bring this to a conclusion, if not by the end of the month then by the start of next month."
Candidates who reportedly have interviewed in Minnesota include ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis and Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner.
Monday's trade ended Madsen's tenure with the Wolves after five seasons, the longest of any player on the roster.
Signed in 2003 after winning a world championship with the Lakers, Madsen played sparingly at forward as the Wolves eventually deployed a younger, less experienced lineup.
Nonetheless, Madsen said it was "a very emotional day for me."
"Even though I have a lot of ties to California and Los Angeles, I've really come to consider Minnesota a second home. My teammates in the locker room were off the charts, and the fans were absolutely incredible.
"But the thought of having the opportunity to rejuvenate my career and redefine myself as a player is exciting."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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