Juwan Snubs Young Wolves

As can be expected, new old Timberwolf Juwan Howard doesn't feel like a rebuilding period right now, thanks. HOOPSWORLD's Stephen Litel says Juwan was professional at Minny media day, but didn't exactly embrace the slew of kids running around.

Howard, who as expected was a professional by sitting down and answering the assembled media's questions for roughly ten minutes, did little else to show he was ready to mentor the Wolf Cubs. He seemed to stay away--either unconsciously or purposefully--from anyone wearing a jersey that was under the age of 30. Throughout the two-hour availability, the only teammates Howard was noticed to be speaking with were Theo Ratliff, Marko Jaric, Mark Blount and Trenton Hassell.

(By the way, Hassell got shipped to Dallas later Friday. Luckily for Juwan, Greg Buckner's older.) You almost understand Howard's misgivings -- he was living large between Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady last season before Daryl Morey swapped him north for Mike James. Now? No fans realistically see the playoffs on the near horizon, and most fans will be actively root for the Wolves to tank much of the season in order to give the kids plenty of burn and the hopper plenty of ping pong balls.

Litel has another scoop: Ricky Davis skipped media day with the flu. Even though he was fine two days previous. Are the veteran Wolves going to go on strike or something? That'd be kind-of awesome.