Wolves Tell Blount To Stay Home When Camp Starts

September 23, 2009 | Filed underTimberwolves,Wolves Fantasy | Posted by

Chris Sheridan (ESPN.com) reports the Minnesota Timberwolves have told center Mark Blount to not show up when training camp starts, while his agent has been given permission to seek a trade with another team.

Blount, 33, is the second-highest paid player on the team, due to make $7.962,500 this season in the last year of his six-year $42 million contract.  Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations David Kahn never had plans to suite Blount up in a Wolves’ uniform, because his acquisition was clearly a financial move for a rebuilding squad of younger players.

Finding a taker for Blount will be difficult because of his high salary number, and his very inconsistent play.  On top of that, the Timberwolves will only trade him if they get an equal expiring contract in return, because they want to set themselves up for some financial flexibility starting in the 2010 season.

The more likely scenario is for the team and Blount to agree on a buyout, by allowing Blount the freedom of free-agency to sign anywhere and the financial freedom that Kahn would like.

Update:  When the Timberwolves announced it, they called it a “mutual agreement for Blount to stay home.”  Same difference.

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  • http://mn-sz.com/?p=1976 Daniels Wants To Be Traded | Minnesota Sports Zone

    [...] allowing Daniels to find a trade as long as they can get a similar expiring contract in return, much like what they have told center Mark Blount.  Daniels though, is expected to at least participate in training camp, whereas Blount will be [...]