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Apr 11 2014, 08:00 AM
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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have once again reached outside the United States for talent, adding Russian guard Alexey Shved to a roster already brimming international flavour. And they hope to have another one in the mix before all is said and done. The Wolves agreed to terms on a deal with Shved on Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced. Contract terms were not immediately available, but Shved will join a team with Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, Montenegrin centre Nikola Pekovic and Puerto Rican guard J.J. Barea already on the roster. The Wolves were also working with Portland to try and bring swingman Nicolas Batum of France to Minnesota. The Wolves and Batum, a restricted free agent, agreed on terms of a four-year, $45 million deal with bonuses that could push it past $50 million, and Batums agent Bouna Ndiaye told The Associated Press last week that they hoped the Blazers would either not match the offer or execute a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves. The announcement on Shved may be delayed while the Wolves try to complete a deal with the Blazers and clear salary cap room needed to add both players. Shved is a 23-year-old combo guard that played for CSKA Moscow last year and was viewed as a flashy prodigy as a teenager. He clashed with high-powered coach Ettore Messina early in his career, went undrafted, but blossomed with CSKA and the Russian national team recently. The 6-foot-6 Shved averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 assists and shot 49 per cent from 3-point range in 21 Euro League games last season. The Timberwolves see him as a player who can play both positions in the backcourt, create off the dribble and flourish off ball screens in Rick Adelmans offence. Adding Shved to the mix could make veteran guards Luke Ridnour and Barea easier to trade. The Wolves had been reluctant to move either player, preferring to keep them on the roster while Rubio worked his way back from a torn ACL in his left knee. Rubio is making progress on his rehabilitation, but it remains unclear if hes going to be ready right at the start of next season. The Wolves have also agreed to terms with former Blazers guard Brandon Roy in a busy off-season. The moratorium on free agency was set to expire at 11 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, allowing players to officially sign contracts. But Shved and Roy likely will have to wait until there is clarity on Batum. The Wolves would like to pull off a sign and trade with the Blazers to help them create some cap room to take on Batums new salary. Several of their short-term contracts that could be desirable if Portland decides to rebuild after missing out on restricted free agent Roy Hibbert. Martell Websters $5.7 million contract and Brad Millers $5.1 million deal can be bought out for much less money by Minnesota or another team, and the Wolves will likely use the amnesty clause on centre Darko Milicics remaining two seasons to free up a total of about $15 million. Ridnour, Barea, Derrick Williams and Wes Johnson have also been mentioned as possible trade chips that would help the Wolves create more cap space if they need it. wholesale jerseys . The CFL club signed the veteran receiver to a contract extension Tuesday. Getzlaf, entering his fifth season with the Riders, established career highs last year with 60 catches for 1,071 yards and 10 touchdowns. jerseys from china . Less than four months after calling it quits, the former Winnipeg Blue Bombers centre returned to the CFL, signing with the Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday. http://www.chinanfljerseyswholesale.com/ . For the first two years after he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, he was more of a brand than a player, his impact at Americas cash registers far greater than any transformation on the field. nfl jerseys china . Wang had his worst outing of the season Tuesday night, lasting just 3 1-3 innings and giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. His record fell to 2-3 and his ERA rose to 6. cheap jerseys . Second-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov faced No. 8 Sam Querrey in the second semifinal. Haas, the German ranked 36th in the world, improved to 4-1 against Fish, and has won six of his last seven matches against top-15 players.NAPA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders once again spent big to lock up one of their own key players, signing a five-year, US$48 million contract with linebacker Kamerion Wimbley on Monday that gives the team more room under the salary cap and Wimbley $29 million in guarantees. "It was in my best interest and the teams best interest to try to work out something long term to try to get some players in here this year to help make us a better team," Wimbley said. "I was with that. Id just like to thank Al Davis and the Raiders organization to allow me the opportunity to be here for more years and to give me the chance to prove myself and play for the Raiders." Now the question remains whether the Raiders will be able to use the salary cap savings to get two more of their free agents into camp: unrestricted tight end Zach Miller and restricted running back Michael Bush. Miller, who has led the Raiders in receiving the past three years, was reportedly in Seattle visiting the Seahawks on Monday, raising questions about whether he will stay in Oakland. "Zach was a Raider last year, we want him to be a Raider now," coach Hue Jackson said. "That thing is going to come to a head here soon. It has to. I feel good about where we are and, hopefully, hell get back to us, well get back to him, and well try to get something resolved." Oakland gave out big deals in the off-season to keep defensive tackle Richard Seymour and cornerback Stanford Routt and placed the franchise tag on Wimbley to keep him for at least another year. Wimbley had been set to play for the $11.3 million franchise tag tender before agreeing to the long-term deal that makes him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the game. Now he knows he will have to deal with the pressure that comes with his lofty salary. "The new contract has to be earned so I definitely look forward to the opportunity to go out and playing and earning every bit of the contract," he said. Its been quite a year so far for Wimbley and his contract. The Raiders originally hoped to use a $3.5 million buyback option to keep Wimbley under contract for next season for just overr $4.dddddddddddd million. But the NFL determined in February that the deal violated rules prohibiting base salaries rising more than 30 per cent in a year. That led to the Raiders decision to use the franchise tag. Then with Oakland looking to lower this years salary cap hit from the $11.3 million franchise tag, Wimbley got an even bigger deal that spreads out the salary cap hit. "The Raiders showed how important Kamerion is to the franchise," said his agent, Joe Linta. "He is elated and happy to make his future with the Raiders and help get them a championship." Wimbley entered the NFL with high expectations after being drafted 13th overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2006. He had 11 sacks as a rookie in a promising start to his career. He was unable to match that production in his final three seasons in Cleveland, recording 15 1/2 sacks in that stretch and was traded to Oakland by new president Mike Holmgren for a third-round pick. Wimbley quickly thrived in Oakland, playing outside linebacker in the base 4-3 defence and then moving to defensive end in passing situations to take advantage of his pass-rushing skills. "He is so versatile," linebacker Quentin Groves said. "He is big and athletic, can stop the run on first and second down and then rush the passer on third down. He is a great guy in the locker room as well. If somebody has a question, they go to Kam. He is a silent leader. He leads by actions and by example. He doesnt say a whole lot, but every now and then he tries to joke around a little bit. Couldnt have happened to a nicer guy." He led Oakland with nine sacks last season and is being counted on for even more this year. "Hes a tremendous player, a tremendous young player," Jackson said. "I know he has nothing but an unbelievable upside ahead of him. Nine sacks a year ago, I expect more than that, more of that, and hell do that for this organization." NOTES: The Raiders get a day off Tuesday. ... S Mike Mitchell missed practice with what Jackson described as a nick. ... Jackson said the Raiders talked to free agent LB Lofa Tatupu, recently released by Seattle. ' ' '
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