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high with six runs before being lifted with one out in the sixth inning. Leake finished with two st
Topic Started: May 19 2014, 01:12 PM (5 Views)
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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves were in the market for a capable perimeter shooter, ideally a veteran with experience in coach Rick Adelmans system to help balance a frontcourt-heavy roster. The Houston Rockets could be looking for something much, much bigger. The teams made a move to address both needs on Tuesday, just two days before the NBA draft: The Timberwolves acquired swingman Chase Budinger from the Rockets in exchange for the 18th overall pick in the draft. Houston went 34-32 last season and missed the playoffs for the third straight year. The Rockets now have the 14th, 16th and 18th selections in a draft that many scouts think is one of the deeper classes in years, a load of ammunition that could help them make a play for one of the stars who could be available, including Orlando centre Dwight Howard or Atlanta forward Josh Smith. Its the second straight off-season the Rockets figure to be very active in trying to add some size and skill to their frontcourt. Last year they had a deal in place that would have landed them Lakers big man Pau Gasol, but NBA Commissioner David Stern, acting on behalf of the league-owned New Orleans Hornets, nixed the trade, which would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is once again making a serious push in search of a blockbuster deal to push them back into contender status in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves see themselves as a team on the rise behind Adelman, point guard Ricky Rubio and power forward Kevin Love. The Wolves faded late last season after Rubio went down with a knee injury, exposing the roster as one with too many point guards, power forwards and centres, and not enough playmakers and shooters on the wings. Michael Beasley struggled with injuries and inconsistency, Wes Johnson couldnt find his shooting stroke and Martell Webster never got fully into the groove after preseason back surgery. Budinger should help. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 40.2 per cent from 3-point range in his third season with the Rockets. The former second-round pick out of Arizona played his first two seasons under Adelman in Houston, so he has familiarity in the coachs corner offence and has demonstrated the ability to knock down open jump shots. "Chase knows Rick Adelmans system well after playing for him in Houston, and he will be a good fit on our team," Timberwolves president David Kahn said in a statement issued by the team. The 6-foot-7 Budinger, who has participated in the slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend, also has the athleticism to get to the basket and a knack for moving without the ball. "Chase was an integral part of our team in Houston my last two years as coach there," Adelman said. "He will help our perimeter game with his athleticism and shooting ability. Chases game has improved in each of his first three seasons in the NBA and we look forward to that continuing here in Minnesota." The Rockets also included the rights to Israeli Lior Eliyahu in the deal, which was first reported by Yahoo Sports. The trade is further evidence of Adelmans role in personnel matters with the Timberwolves. As the season drew to a close, Adelman lobbied hard for the team to add more veterans. He wasnt interested in bringing another rookie, especially with a fairly low draft pick, into one of the youngest teams in the league, and his familiarity with Budinger no doubt encouraged Kahn to make the deal. Kahn said at seasons end that he fully expected to work closely with Adelman to target veteran players during an important summer for the franchise. The early returns support that, with other deals either in trades or free agency sure to come. The trade also helps Minnesota from a financial perspective. Budinger is due to make $942,000 next season and could become a free agent after next season. The modest salary gives the Wolves more salary cap room than a guaranteed three-year deal for a first-round draft pick, which could open up their options for other moves in free agency, which begins July 1, or through trades. wholesale jerseys . Choi was 5 under through 12 holes when first-round play was delayed because of lightning, then added a birdie on the par-4 14th and finished the bogey-free round with four pars. cheap jerseys from china . Gee shook off the rough patch in an otherwise strong outing, Lucas Duda backed him with a homer and single to drive in four runs, and the New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5 on Saturday night. http://www.cheapjerseysnflchina.us/ . The Spanish capital derby had been billed as a must-win match for Madrid, which is 11 points behind leader Barcelona. Instead, electricians tried and failed to repair the damage caused by what Rayo president Raul Martin Presa called "vandals" who had "cut the wiring" on some of the stadiums light towers. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Pete Carroll says the "field" in FedEx Field is "horrible. cheap jerseys . For weeks, he has hung around Clevelands offices doing what he could to help new owner Jimmy Haslam. Holmgren attended meetings, practices and games. CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Brandon Phillips felt Cincinnatis fans were a bit premature in their booing, so he took it upon himself to turn the jeers into cheers. The second baseman homered and had a season-high five RBIs, then scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on Todd Fraziers single to help the Reds rally from a six-run deficit in a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. "If youre going to boo, wait until the games over," said Phillips, who Cincinnati to its first win after trailing by as many as six runs since wiping out a 6-0 deficit to beat Washington 8-7 on May 21, 2007. "We feed off the fans." Arizona led 6-3 with one out in the seventh when reliever Bryan Shaw (1-4) walked pinch-hitter Xavier Paul and leadoff batter Drew Stubbs. Wilson Valdezs grounder skipped under the glove of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for a run-scoring error, setting up Phillips tying two-run double to left-centre field. Phillips moved to third on Jay Bruces groundout to Goldschmidt against reliever Mike Zagurski and scored on Fraziers single to left off Brad Ziegler. "That was pretty fun, especially after the beginning," Frazier said. "We were a little dead. Brandon got us going." Alfredo Simon (2-1) allowed one hit in 1 2-3 innings for the win. Logan Ondrusek and Sean Marshall combined to pitch a scoreless eighth and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 15th save as the Reds salvaged a split of the four-game series and moved a half-game ahead of idle Pittsburgh in the NL Central. The Reds improved to 2-2 in their first four games without All-Star first baseman Joey Votto, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. They also have 22 come-from-behind wins. "The Reds are a very resilient team," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. Phillips, who usually bats fourth, finally got going in Vottos normal No. 3 spot. He was a combined 3-for-11 with one RBI in the first three games since manager Dusty Baker moved him up a notch. "Brandon can hit all over the order," Baker said. "Hes the only guy weve got who can do that. This lets you know you can come back. It shows us what we can do without Joey. Youvee just got to keep doing what you can do.dddddddddddd." The Diamondbacks scored in the first inning for the third time in the four-game series. Willie Bloomquist led off the game with a single to right field, stole second as Aaron Hill was striking out and scored on Goldschmidts two-out single to centre. They made it 2-0 in the third on Bloomquists leadoff double to right field and Hills RBI single to right that extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Hill added his 13th homer of the season, a 395-foot solo shot into the left field seats, with one out in the fifth. The Diamondbacks added three in the sixth, including Henry Blancos two-run homer, his first since Sept. 28 against the Dodgers. Stubbs and Valdez led off the sixth with singles before Phillips crushed a 1-1 pitch 428 feet into the second deck in left field for his 11th homer of the season. Arizona starter Joe Saunders allowed one hit in five innings before wilting in the sixth. The left-hander allowed four hits and three runs with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings. "I ran into a little trouble in the sixth -- a couple of soft hits," Saunders said. "I made a good pitch to Phillips. I dont know how he kept it fair. Maybe he was cheating in a little bit. Youve just got to tip your cap and move on. Its a shame we couldnt close it out and win the series." Cincinnati starter Mike Leake tied his career high by allowing 11 hits and his season high with six runs before being lifted with one out in the sixth inning. Leake finished with two strikeouts and a walk. NOTES: Reds All-Star OF Jay Bruce went 0 for 4 to extend his hitless streak to 18 at bats. ... Hills homer made it the 72nd consecutive game in which at least one home run has been hit at Great American Ball Park, the longest active streak. ... The start of the game was delayed 46 minutes by rain. ... After going 2-5 on the road trip, the Diamondbacks are scheduled to open a 10-game homestand Friday against Houston. RHP Trevor Cahill, Arizonas projected starter, is 1-3 with a 4.63 ERA over his last four starts. ... RHP Homer Bailey, who won his last three starts, is scheduled to start for the Reds against Milwaukee Friday at Cincinnati. Bailey never has won four straight starts. ' ' '
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