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" The Canadiens fought back in the second period
MINNEAPOLIS - Throughout most of last season, Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders and owner Glen Taylor remained steadfast in their stance that they would not consider trading Kevin Love. AShawn Robinson Jersey . They were determined instead to convince the All-Star forward that he should sign an extension to remain after next season. With the NBA draft lottery coming up this week and an increasing concern that Love will leave for another team after next year, that stance has softened, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The Timberwolves are now open to the idea of trading Love if the right deal comes along. The people requested anonymity because the team has not made any final decisions on Loves future in Minnesota. A likely asking price would include a high first-round pick in this years draft and a solid veteran or two who would come in and contribute right away to a team that is lacking in veteran leadership. If the Wolves do not get an offer they feel is worthy of parting with the second-best player in franchise history, they are content to move forward with a plan to show Love that Minnesota is where he belongs, much the way the Portland Trail Blazers did with LaMarcus Aldridge last off-season. Love just finished the second year of a four-year deal that includes an option for him to opt-out in the summer of 2015. The contract terms were the first signs of strife for Love and the organization when former basketball boss David Kahn declined to give him the full five-year maximum deal that Love wanted. Kahn was fired in 2013 and Saunders has worked tirelessly to try to convince Love that he should stay in Minnesota where he can make about $26.5 million more than he can anywhere else. But the Wolves have not made the playoffs in 10 years, including all six of Loves seasons with the team, a lack of success that has one of the best power forwards in the game growing more and more impatient. Neither Love nor his representatives have gone so far as to ask for a trade, but as the NBA draft lottery approaches on Tuesday, the trade market figures to heat up. The Timberwolves are slotted to pick 13th in the first round. But they are holding out hope that they get lucky for the first time in franchise history in the lottery and jump up. Getting one of the top three picks in a strong draft could be an encouraging sign for Love. If that doesnt happen, the Wolves could look at making a trade if they felt it had a chance to make them better in the long run. Love has made three All-Star teams and helped Team USA win the gold medal at the London Olympics. He averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists last season, but the Wolves finished a disappointing 40-42 and missed the playoffs in the Western Conference. While there remains some question whether Love can be the best player on a championship-calibre team, there figures to be a long list of suitors to line up for his services via trade this summer or free agency next year. But Love would likely have to give any team that makes the Wolves an offer some kind of indication that he is open to signing an extension, much the way Chris Paul did when he was dealt from New Orleans to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011. The uncertainty surrounding Love has also complicated the Wolves pursuit of a coach to replace Rick Adelman, who retired after the season. Saunders has been in the market for a proven, experienced head coach who can come and command respect right away while also handling what most assuredly would be a difficult season filled with constant questions about Loves status. Not surprisingly, most of the names near the top of Saunders list have been reluctant to entertain the idea of taking the job without knowing what is going to happen with Love. Some luck on lottery night could also make the job more attractive for an incoming coach. In the absence of any long-shot lottery luck, the Wolves will ramp up their coaching search after their draft position solidifies on Tuesday night. Names such as Lionel Hollins, Sam Mitchell and Scott Skiles will all get consideration. And return runs at Michigan States Tom Izzo, Floridas Billy Donovan or Iowa States Fred Hoiberg arent out of the question after all three gave them a tepid response early in the process. ___ Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski ;Matt Cassel Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Levine Toilolo Jersey . The former central defender calmly nodded it down and quietly went about celebrating a win with his staff. For a man who has had a lot on his shoulders this season, it was an appropriate moment.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes were on their heels after building a two-goal lead, spending most of the second period in their own zone. After losing a two-goal lead four days earlier, the last thing they wanted was to do it again, particularly this late in the season and against a team theyve struggled against. Instead of folding, the Coyotes fought back, earning a crucial win before they head off on a four-game road trip. Radim Vrbata scored two goals and the Coyotes bounced back from a shaky second period to beat Montreal 5-2 Thursday night, their first win over the Canadiens since 1998. "We talked about coming out like we did in the first and I think we did a pretty good job in the third," said Coyotes defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who had a goal and an assist. "It wasnt great, but we got two points." With the Canadiens coming off a six-round shootout the night before, the Coyotes want to jump on them early and did just that. Vrbata scored 2:08 in, Lauri Korpikoski had his first goal in 19 games and Ekman-Larsson also scored for his 100th career point to put Phoenix up 3-1. The Canadiens picked up the pressure and the Coyotes spent most of the second period chasing, getting off one shot while serving a string of penalties. Alex Galchenyuk scored midway through the period on a two-man advantage, cutting the Coyotes lead to 3-2. But after blowing a two-goal lead against St. Louis on Sunday, Phoenix stiffened. Vrbata made it a two-goal lead in the third period and Keith Yandle scored less than 2 minutes later to put it out of reach, giving Phoenix its first winning streak since Jan. 16-18. Mike Ribeiro and Kyle Chipchura added a pair of assists for the Coyotes, who hadnt beaten Montreal since Dec. 9, 1998, in Arizona (0-9-2). "These are desperate points for us before we go on the road," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "We needed this one badly." The Canadiens came out flat after beating the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks in the extended shootout the night before, allowing the Coyotes to dictate play. Montreal dominated the second period, leading to a series of penalties by the Coyotes, but couldnt sustain it in the third when Phoenix picked up the pressure. Andrei Markov had a goal and an assist, and P.K. Subban had a pair of aassists for the Canadiens. T.J. Jones Jersey. "We started the game like a team who played last night and travelled and came here at 3 oclock in the morning," Montreal coach Michel Therrien. "Before we got going, we were in trouble, so we had to play catch up hockey and its never the solution to win hockey games." Phoenix made one big move at the trade deadline, picking forward Martin Erat, who played on the second line with Chipchura -- in place of injured centre Martin Hanzal-- and Vrbata. Montreal also added a big reinforcement, picking up high-scoring forward Thomas Vanek in a deal that sent a prospect and a draft pick to the New York Islanders. Erat had the impact on his new team first, helping the Coyotes score on his first shift when Vrbata redirected a shot by David Schlemko and sent it bouncing past Peter Budaj. Markov tied it later in the period on a slap shot from the left circle that bounced off the post and out of the net so quickly the officials didnt count it until after reviewing it about a minute later. Korpikoski put Phoenix back on top late in the period on another redirect, this one on a shot by Michael Stone for his first goal since Jan. 11. Ekman-Larsson put the Coyotes up 3-1 with 8.5 seconds left, beating Budaj on a wrister after a pass by Ribeiro from behind the goal. "I think sometimes its travel, but thats not an excuse," Budaj said of Montreals slow start. "Its not an excuse; youve got to be ready and I dont think we were ready right off the hop." The Canadiens fought back in the second period, spent most of the period in Phoenixs end, leading to a series of penalties, including a long 5-on-3 that led to Galchenyuks on a redirect. But, after going more than 21 minutes without a shot, the Coyotes took control back, getting goals by Vrbata and a redirect by Doan to remain ninth in the Western Conference standings. Notes: Hanzal missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. ... Montreal concludes its four-game Western road swing in San Jose on Saturday. ... A slashing call against Ribeiro early in the second period was the Coyotes first penalty in nearly 90 minutes. ... Montreal had a goal by Brendan Gallagher waved off in the second period when David Desharnais was called for being in the crease. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Nike Baseball Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Authentic Cheap NHL Jerseys Canada Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Nike NHL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Football Jerseys Store Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Jerseys NCAA China Jerseys NFL CheapCheap Nike NBA Jerseys ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20
