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The signing of an above-average Joe can't hide the fact that this squad still has a gaping hole in the middle

By Daniel G. Habib

The versatile Garnett can do damage in the paint, unlike, alas, the Timberwolves' woeful centers.  John W. McDonough Enemy Lines An opposing team's scout sizes up the Timberwolves " Terrell Brandon is the key. They don't play well when he's out because William Avery can't get it done and Chauncey Billups is more of a two guard. If Brandon is healthy, he's one of the premier points in the league, but that's a big if. ... They made two good moves. Drafting Loren Woods will work because Flip Saunders will find a way to make it work, like he makes everything work. He'll move Woods around a lot, make sure that he doesn't get overpowered. And it's not as if Woods has to come in and take over in the middle, because Rasho Nesterovic is O.K. He just doesn't have one thing that makes him stand out. He needs to develop something -- some unstoppable inside shot -- that would take him to the next level. ... The other good move was picking up Gary Trent , who's an animal down on the blocks. ... Wally Szczerbiak is O.K., but he's not really a two and they would've been better off trading him and getting someone really athletic at that position. Overall, they have average athleticism besides, of course, Kevin Garnett. ... Garnett is getting better and better, able to step out and make shots, learning how to defend several positions. A guy like Joe Smith , who is an average player, looks really good playing next to Garnett; anything starts to go wrong, KG will cover. ... Saunders and Kevin McHale have created a nice atmosphere in Minnesota, and they have a great working relationship. But, ultimately, this team probably won't get higher than Number 5 in the West."

Power forward Joe Smith is in no hurry. Fifteen minutes after the Timberwolves' afternoon scrimmage at the Target Center has wrapped, he calmly swishes five-foot turnaround jumpers in the paint before ambling to the sideline and sliding into a folding chair. "Last year in training camp I'd run from the court to the phone as soon as practice was over, trying to find out what was going on and wondering whether I'd have to start packing my bags," says Smith. "Now I'm just happy to be back, to have a home."

Smith's anxious sprints from the hardwood to the handset came as the NBA was investigating an under-the-table, seven-year, $86 million contract engineered by Smith's former agent, Eric Fleisher, and team owner Glen Taylor. The penalty for Taylor's attempt to circumvent the salary cap was harsh: Commissioner David Stern fined the club $3.5 million, voided Smith's contract and declared him a free agent, suspended Taylor for the season and stripped the team of five first-round picks. (One has since been reinstated.) Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale also was forced to take an eight-month leave of absence.

At least Minnesota's passion, though self-destructive, was sincere. Given another shot at Smith in July, the Timberwolves used their mid-level exception to sign him to a (legit) six-year, $34 million deal. Was it worth throwing their last pile of cash at a 26-year-old who shot 40.3% for the woeful Pistons in 2000-01 and seems, at best, a slight upgrade over last season's starter, LaPhonso Ellis? "Joe is one of the best in the league at defending off the ball, at taking charges, at helping from the weak side, and he's our best offensive rebounder," says coach Flip Saunders. "Joe's a great blend with our players, and he can be extremely productive if he can find his niche."

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, who have lost in the first round of the playoffs for five straight seasons, tinkering with role players won't be enough. Though Wally Szczerbiak, 24, was offered in several packages, including a three-way deal that would have brought Gary Payton, his standout performance for Saunders at the Goodwill Games (13.0 points per game, 69.7% from the field, 61.5% from three-point range) has sold the T-Wolves on his long-term potential.

The team's most glaring weakness remains at center, where last year Saunders employed a four-headed monster dubbed LaRasho D. Slaterellis by the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Ellis, inconsistent 7-footer Rasho Nesterovic, journeyman Dean Garrett and undersized Reggie Slater. This season the job is up for grabs among Garrett, Nesterovic and Loren Woods, the 7'1" rookie from Arizona. Against smaller frontcourts Smith, an effective low-post scorer, will also be pressed into duty in the pivot, as he was in his two previous seasons in Minnesota. Ideally, though, Saunders will keep the 6'10", 225-pound Smith at the four and use the super-sized pairing of Szczerbiak at off-guard and Kevin Garnett at small forward. "Moving KG out on the floor helps us tremendously," Saunders says. "With his versatility, his wingspan, his ability to defend and to deflect balls, he causes a lot of havoc." Adds Smith, his eyes widening at the prospect, "That lineup would create some serious matchup problems."

In the off-season Smith married his longtime girlfriend, Yolanda Moorer (with whom he has two children, Alanna, 8, and Cameron, 3), and moved into a three-story town house in Minnetonka -- the same suburb Smith lived in during his previous stint with the Timberwolves. "In the last year I've heard so much doubt," Smith says. "People want to know why the Timberwolves would risk anything on a player like me, a player who hasn't really done much during his career. I want to quiet those critics. That's my main motivation."

Issue date: October 29, 2001

Click here to look back at CNNSI.com's preseason Timberwolves preview.