If the Timberwolves would prefer to swing a deal for a veteran player this summer, rather than try to lure a free agent to Minnesota, they could try to get Kirk Hinrich.

Hinrich, who has three years and $26 million left on his current contract, was the centerpiece of trade rumors involving the Bulls and Timberwolves prior to February's trade deadline.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has been a mainstay at the university, but the Timberwolves could try to lure him to the NBA this summer.

Of course, all possibilities hinge on whether or not Kevin McHale wants to remain on the sidelines past this season.

Sam Mitchell, who was fired by the Raptors on Dec. 4th, still wants to coach in the NBA and is adjusting to life off the court.

"It's tough," Mitchell said. "It's the first time in 22 years I'm not working. I've always had a job in basketball. It's a tough experience to go through being fired, but it happens. So you've got a choice, to sit around and say how tough it is or to move on with your life and do some positive things."

Mitchell played several seasons with the Timberwolves, but knows a lot will have to happen in order for an opportunity to arise in Minnesota.

"First of all, a whole lot of things would have to happen for me to entertain answering that question," he said. "Kevin McHale is the coach and that's going to be Kevin McHale's and Glen Taylor's decision. It has nothing to do with Sam Mitchell. I'm not going to sit here and try to speculate on what's going to happen because I don't know. If for whatever reason something like that happened, then it would an appropriate time for me to think about it and, if they were interested, talk to them about it. But right now it's not even worth talking about because you have to assume and figure that Kevin McHale's the coach. He's going to be the coach until something different happens."

Minnesota is pulling for Utah to continue their strong play and move up in the Western Conference standings, because it could give them four first round picks in June's NBA Draft.

The Timberwolves will receive the Jazz's draft pick if it winds up at No. 23 or lower. The selection was initially involved in the trade that sent Kyle Korver to Utah from Philadelphia, and helped complete a trade last July when the 76ers sent Rodney Carney to Minnesota.

Minnesota already has their own first-rounder, and picks from previous trades with the Heat and Celtics.

With an ailing back and ankle, Chris Duhon will be sidelined for the remainder of the Knicks' road trip on Friday against the Wolves and Sunday against the Cavaliers.

"I would expect in two or three days he'll be fine," Mike D'Antoni said.

Nate Robinson, who is averaging 27.2 points at 49.1% from the field over the last 13 games, will start at the point in Duhon's absence.

Ceruzzi Sports attempted to recruit Kevin Love to their agency by using his former AAU coach Pat Barrett.  Barrett received a $250,000 donation from the Ceruzzi agency.

According to Charles Grantham, CEO of Ceruzzi, Barrett promised he would provide introductions to more than a dozen of his top college-aged prospects, including Love, Taj Gibson and Chase Budinger.

In March, Barrett arranged a dinner at the trendy Mr. Chow with Love and Jay Williams, the former Duke star whose career was cut short due to a motorcycle accident.  Williams had been trying to become an agent.

?My face turned completely red,? said Love. ?I respect [Williams] as a player. But he came after me and once he started talking about all that agent stuff, I said, ?You know what, talk to my family.??

Grantham did arrange a meeting with Love's father, also a former NBA player.

?I told him, ?I didn?t get any of your money,?? Stan Love said. ??You were giving it Pat Barrett and he was spending it on all these teams he had and his [younger high school players].??

The Loves said Ceruzzi Sports never had a chance to sign Kevin, both because of their dealing with Barrett and their discomfort with Jay Williams.

?If I was going with an agent,? said Kevin Love, ?why would I ever go with a guy who, no offense, but he crashed a motorcycle into a tree. I?m not going to go with a guy that?s reckless.?

Williams left Ceruzzi Sports after efforts to sign Love failed saying he grew disenchanted with an industry where agents thought they could ?buy off? prospects.

Timberwolves center Al Jefferson underwent season-ending knee surgery three weeks ago and vowed on Wednesday that he'll return better than ever.

He's only in the first stages of his rehabilitation, but already plans to be ready for the start of next season after tearing his right ACL.

"I will be playing at the beginning of next season," Jefferson said. "I'm just going to take my time with training camp and preseason, but there's no doubt in my mind I'll be ready to go next season."

He's been on a strict diet and lost some weight since the procedure, and isn't worried about the knee limiting him in the future.

"That's why I'm out here busting my tail now," Jefferson said. "I'm not going to even think like that. It's not going to limit me. I've seen guys have way worse knee surgery than I had and come back better than ever. I'm going to be one of those guys."

Al Jefferson visited his Minnesota teammates at practice on Wednesday in an attempt to provide a lift to a team that has struggled since the center's season-ending knee injury.

The Timberwolves are 1-9 since Jefferson went down with the injury.

He is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has announced his decision that Kevin McHale is welcome back as the team's coach next season, but not as their vice president of basketball operations.

"I didn't make him the interim coach," Taylor said. "He's the coach."

When asked if that means McHale's days in the front office are over Taylor said, "For here, it is."