The Catch: with Jeff Plattner

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, David Kahn, has been a busy man this offseason. When the Wolves tip off the 2012-13 season, their roster is sure to look much different than it did in their final game of the 2011-12 season. However, the biggest piece of the offseason puzzle for Kahn and the Wolves has also been the biggest difficulty to make happen. Minnesota has been interested in Portland Trailblazers French swingman, Nic Batum for a while now. Batum has made it clear that he prefers to play alongside Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love as opposed to returning to the Blazers. But, Batum is a restricted free agent, so Portland has the luxury of matching the offer sheet he signed with Minnesota, which reportedly is worth $46.4 million over 4 years, if they want to retain his rights and they most likely will. Portland has until midnight on Wednesday to decide whether or not they will match Minnesota’s offer to Batum. Their decision could ultimately make or break the Wolves offseason success.

As part of their pursuit of Batum, Kahn and the Wolves made many other roster moves. Although these delayed moves may have cost the Wolves the ability to pursue other players should Portland match Minnesota’s offer and retain Batum, in an attempt to clear cap space and make room for the possible addition of Batum, in a matter of hours on Friday, the Wolves amnestied C Darko Milicic, waived SF Martell Webster, and traded C Brad Miller. I understand Kahn trying to work a sign-and-trade for Batum, but when that was not happening, I do not understand why we decided it was a smart move to wait another entire week, before getting the above moves done? While the Wolves wait to see if Portland will match their offer sheet, perhaps one of their better secondary options, O.J. Mayo, signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Moving on…The Wolves chose not to bring back free agent SF, Michael, Beasley, who has signed with the Phoenix Suns. In a pre-draft trade with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota acquired SF Chase Budinger. They’ve also agreed to terms with former Trailblazers star, Brandon Roy and Russian standout, Alexey Shved. Shved is a 6’6” athletic PG, who can stroke it from deep. If you want a sneak peek before he joins the Wolves, Shved will be playing for Russia in the Olympics. Roy and Shved will not sign contracts until after the Wolves find out their fate with Batum. The additions of Roy and Shved, to the Wolves backcourt, could make it easier for Minnesota to part with guards, Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea, via trade. Rumors of a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies have been swirling lately as well. The deal would send SG Wayne Ellington to Memphis in exchange for Grizzlies PF Dante Cunningham, providing the Wolves with much need frontcourt depth. While the Wolves have been busy themselves, other teams around the league have been as well. We’ll know whether or not Nic Batum will be a Minnesota Timberwolf by Wednesday night. While that is still a work in progress, below are some of the key moves that have already been made or are on the verge of being made this offseason.