Timberwolves trade Cassell to Clippers for Jaric, Chalmers
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sam Cassell complained about his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in training camp, then struggled and sulked through an injury plagued season. That was enough for Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale.
McHale shipped the aging and disgruntled Cassell and a conditional first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night for guards Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers.
Cassell was the poster boy for the underachieving Timberwolves, who followed up an appearance in the Western Conference finals in 2003-04 by missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 1996.
"I just felt we needed to change up the team a bit. Last year was a disappointing year," McHale said. "It was time to go in another direction."
The deal ends an up-and-down two years in Minnesota for Cassell, who was an All-Star and one of the biggest reasons for the Wolves' breakout season in 2003-04 after arriving in a trade with Milwaukee.
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| Sam Cassell averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in an injury-plagued season. (Getty Images) |
But Cassell began to wear out his welcome last season, complaining about not getting a contract extension when training camp started, and then averaged a mediocre 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in 59 games.
Cassell will team with Cuttino Mobley and youngster Shaun Livingston in the Clippers' new-look backcourt. Mobley signed a five-year, $42-million deal on Aug. 3.
"I really like Sammy," McHale said. "But it was just time to get a little longer and a little younger at the point. It was time for a change."
Jaric fits both those criteria.
The 26-year-old player from Serbia-Montenegro is 6-foot-7 and can play three positions. He was a restricted free agent who was signed by the Clippers before the trade. Jaric averaged a career-high 9.9 points, 6.1 assists and 33.1 minutes for Los Angeles last season.
McHale said the Timberwolves targeted Jaric all offseason, calling him as soon as free agency opened on Aug. 1.
"We really like Marko," McHale said. "He's very versatile."
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