The Timberwolves have released 26-year old shooting guard Maurice Ager. Ager played in 4 games (0 starts) for the T-Wolves this year and he averaged 7.3 minutes, 3.8 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Ager shot 54.5% from the floor and he was 3 of 4 from three point range for the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves wanted to go in a different direction which led to Ager’s release.

The Timberwolves have signed 25-year old PF/C Anthony Tolliver to a 2-year, $4.8 million dollar deal. Tolliver played in 46 games (29 starts) for the Blazers & Warriors last season and he averaged 31.0 minutes, 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has now played in 65 games (29 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 25.2 minutes, 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. I like this signing for the T-Wolves as Tolliver is still young and he has a nice upside.

The Timberwolves have traded 24-year old point guard Ramon Sessions, 25-year old center Ryan Hollins and a 2nd round pick in 2013 to the Cleveland Cavaliers for 27-year old shooting guard Delonte West and 25-year old point guard Sebastian Telfair. Sessions played in 82 games (1 start) in his only season in Minnesota and he averaged 21.1 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Hollins also only played one year in Minnesota. He played in 73 games (27 starts) for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 16.8 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

Delonte West played in 60 games (3 starts) for the Cavs last season and he averaged 25.0 minutes, 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He has now played in 364 games (223 starts) in his six years in the NBA and he has averaged 28.4 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Sebastian Telfair played in 43 games (1 start) for the Clippers & Cavs last season and he averaged 15.3 minutes, 4.8 points, 1.0 rebound and 2.9 assists per game. He has now played in 392 games (181 starts) in his six years in the NBA and he has averaged 23.6 minutes, 7.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Neither of these guys will likely ever suit up for the T-Wolves. West is due $4.6 million bucks in 2010-11 but only $500,000 bucks is guaranteed if he’s released by August 5th….which he no doubt will. Sebastian Telfair will either be bought out of the $2.7 million bucks he’s owed for 2010-11 or he will be traded. This was nothing more than a cost cutting move by the Timberwolves.

UPDATE: (8/3/2010) - The T-Wolves have released Delonte West saving $4 million dollars for 2010-11.

The Timberwolves have signed 29-year old point guard Luke Ridnour to a 4-year, $16 million dollar deal. Ridnour played in 82 games (0 starts) for the Bucks last season and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 10.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He has now played in 516 games (278 starts) in his 7 years in the NBA and he has averaged 26.0 minutes, 9.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game. I like this signing for the T-Wolves as Ridnour is a good outside shooter and a solid point guard overall.

The Timberwolves have traded 25-year old PF/C Al Jefferson to the Utah Jazz for two future first round picks and 21-year old center Kosta Koufos. 25-year old PF/C Al Jefferson played on a bad wheel all of last season but he still put up decent numbers. Jefferson played in 76 games (all starts) for the Timberwolves last season and he averaged 32.4 minutes, 17.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game last year. He was the key player the T-Wolves got in return for Kevin Garnett three summers ago in a trade with the Celtics. Jefferson has played in 208 games (all starts) in his three years with the T-Wolves and he is averaging 34.7 minutes, 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Despite only being on the Timberwolves three years, Jefferson was already #4 in rebounds (2,162), #3 in blocked shots (300) and he is #9 in points scored (4,183) in team history. Kosta Koufos played in 36 games (0 starts) for the Jazz last season and he averaged 4.8 minutes, 1.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 84 games (7 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 8.8 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. With the way the Timberwolves have been drafting I’m not so certain I like this deal for them. But at least it gets Jefferson’s salary off the books.