Hilfestellungen » winning.ESPN?columnist?Nigel CollinsOn

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves entered unrestricted free agency with two priorities at the top of their list -- add a shooting guard with range and bringing back Chase Budinger. Within the matter of a couple of hours on Tuesday, new team president Flip Saunders accomplished both of those goals. The Timberwolves agreed to a four-year, $30 million deal with shooting guard Kevin Martin and a three-year, $16 million with Budinger, according to two people with knowledge of the deals. Budingers deal includes a player option for the final season. The people requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. The agreements, which cant become official until July 10, were two strong moves to address the teams woeful outside shooting last season. The Wolves ranked dead last in 3-point shooting percentage last year, and Saunders made it a point to get more shooters to complement point guard Ricky Rubios slick passing. Both players are intimately familiar with coach Rick Adelmans corner offence, a system that is predicated on quick passing and moving without the ball. Martin played for Adelman in Sacramento and Houston before taking a bench role in Oklahoma City last season. He averaged 14.0 points and shot 42.6 per cent on 3s last season and was looking for a chance to get back into a starters role. The 6-foot-7 Martin will get that in Minnesota, which has been looking for a bigger shooting guard after playing the undersized Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea in that role for most of last season. Budinger averaged 9.4 points and shot 32 per cent from 3-point range last season. He only played in 23 games thanks to a knee injury that derailed a promising start to the year, but Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman and new President Flip Saunders made no secret of the fact that they badly wanted Budinger back in Minnesota. The Timberwolves paid Budinger a visit at his San Diego home on Sunday night, arriving just after the market opened at 9:01 p.m. on the West Coast. Budinger also entertained an offer from the Milwaukee Bucks, but ultimately decided to remain with the Timberwolves and a coach he has grown very fond of in his short time in the league. Budinger played for Adelman in Houston before arriving in a trade prior to last years draft. His ability to shoot from the perimeter and move without the ball paid immediate dividends, helping him fit right in with the system Adelman was still installing in his second season with the Timberwolves. Budingers high-point last season came early on in a game against the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 9. He scored 18 points in the game, including the game-winning layup with less than 1 second to play that came after he made the kind of cut to the basket from the 3-point line that few other Timberwolves players showed the instincts to make. But the very next night in Chicago, Budinger tore the meniscus in his left knee and did not return until late March. The Timberwolves sorely missed him. They had to rely almost exclusively on the pick-and-roll on offence, something that Adelman has historically been reluctant to do in favour of his more free-flowing, motion-based corner offence. But without Budinger there to make cuts away from the ball and come off screens, the Wolves had to simplify things. After Andrei Kirilenko declined his $10.2 million option with the Wolves to become a free agent, a starting job opened at small forward. The promise of significant playing time, coupled with Adelman and pass-happy point guard Ricky Rubio, no doubt played a role in his decision. Now the Wolves will likely turn all of their focus to restricted free agent centre Nikola Pekovic, who is expected to receive significant offers on the open market once Dwight Howard makes a decision on where he is going. Saunders has said that the Wolves, who can match any offer made, will do whatever it takes to keep him.Fake Balenciaga For Sale . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Fake Balenciaga . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. https://www.fakebalenciaga.com/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Cheap Balenciaga . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Fake Balenciaga From China . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court.ESPN rounds-up all the best and most memorable quotes ahead of ?the highly anticipated Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook fight on Saturday.Gennady GolovkinOn fighting in the United Kingdom:I like the UK fans. People in the UK understand boxing. Theres a lot of history and tradition.Every time I told [promoter] Tom Loeffler, Please, give me a chance to fight in the UK. I have a couple of fights, with Martin Murray, with Matthew Macklin, [but] I want to fight here, in the UK.Ive had fights in Kazakhstan, in Germany, in Panama. This is the boxing world. The UK is huge for me. There are some great champions from the UK.Its like Mexico. There are true fans. I cant just stay in Kazakhstan. I cant stay in the United States. I want to fight all over the world. I want big fights.On fighting Kell Brook:Kell is a champion and I respect him. I saw a couple of his fights. He has different speed, different movement and different timing. Its not easy.Yes, its a different size for us, Im a little bit bigger, but right now I cant say hes an easy fight for me because hes a very good fighter.Kell BrookOn stepping up two weight divisions:I feel strong; I feel like Ive never felt before. Im going to be a monster, and surprise everybody.Im not scared of him. Ive had so many things that have happened to me, like being stabbed [two years ago] and thinking I might not fight again, so this for me -- fighting Golovkin -- is sport and I dont fear him.Ive heard about his power but hes going to have to show me what hes about.I know Martin Murray went 11 rounds with him and hes a very tough man. It might come down to the skill, and who wants it the most. It might come down to the sweet science of the game.On the media build-up and hype:Everyone has got their own opinion but I hope the British public gets behind me but a lot of fight fans love Golovkin and some will be there just to support him,Whether they are paying to watch me wwin or lose, I still get paid.ddddddddddddPromoter Eddie HearnOn offering Brook the bout:I spoke to Kell that night and said, Would you be interested in Golovkin? And he was like, Ill fight Golovkin! I said, You serious? Kell said, Yes, get me the contract.Ive promoted Kell for five years. I was happy to give him the title shot and the money and no hassle.British boxer Martin MurrayOn his 2014 fight with GGG:Everyone knows that Golovkin can punch, but I was surprised by his variety.He opened me up like no one had ever done before and it takes someone very special to do that and he did it through his variety of shots.I just didnt know where a lot of the shots were coming from and I didnt even see the first shot that put me down.On?Golovkin-Brook:The only way to beat Golovkin is to try and push him back and come forward. Even so, I dont think there is anyone out there at middleweight who can do that.Kell needs to bring something different to the table and despite his distance, range and timing being world class, I cant see him winning.ESPN?columnist?Nigel CollinsOn Kell Brooks underdog status:Fans on the western side of the Atlantic Ocean have done little but ridicule the match from the get-go.They are cock-sure the boxer who calls himself The Special One isnt anywhere near special enough to beat Golovkin.His destiny is preordained. Hes going to be victim No. 36. No doubt about it.But dont expect Brooks ring walk to be accompanied by that old Tom Waits song, Whistling Past the Graveyard.The 30-year-old fighter from Sheffield sounded supremely confident fight week and told the media that he felt like a monster. Lets just hope he wasnt talking about the Cookie Monster.Now youve caught up with the best quotes, vote the greatest bout between two previously undefeated fighters ' ' '