Stein Tweets Wolves Likely Get Gelabale

[shrink]

This can only end in an injury...

ROFL!!!

[Klomp]

And...the Wolves, as expected, will sign European swingman Mickael Gelabale on Friday after Lazar Hayward's 10-day contract expires following tonight's game.

Gelabale probably already is town and very well could be at practice tomorrow. A member of the French Olympic team last summer, he will help address their needs for a defender and three-point shooter.

[FinnTheHuman]

He played awesome for a Croatian underdog team Cedevita in Euroleague this season, he was arguably their MVP. He will be an average bench contributor at worst if you ask me.

[Klomp]

Most importantly...

A BLACK GUY!

[Klomp]

Hopefully he has good insurance

[Murphs56]

Don't do it Gelabale. For your own safety, please...

[Basti]

Don't worry with Gelabale, you'll be happy with him I'm sure. Smart player team driven who doesn't force things or take bad shots. He's an accomplished player in Euroleague with a good pedigree. He managed to change his game quite well after all those injuries he suffered. One of my favorites french players. Hope he can stick with this team because it's a perfect fit. I really think he's an Adelman type player.

after all those injuries he suffered

after all those injuries he suffered

after all those injuries he suffered

His knees will implode the very moment he steps on the court.

[...]

His knees will implode the very moment he steps on the court.

HA! You think his knees will allow him to even make it off the plane. Can we start the Gelabale appreciation/thanks for trying thread already or what?

[Saltine]

the deal is done
http://www.nba.com/2013/news/01/17/timb ... index.html

Wolves' sign French swingman Mickael Gelabale

Posted Jan 17, 2013 8:33 PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to terms with French swingman Mickael Gelabale.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available, but Gelabale was expected to join the injury-filled Wolves on Friday after Lazar Hayward's 10-day contract expires.

Gelabale has been playing for Valencia in the Spanish league. He is being brought in to add depth to a team that has been decimated by injuries to Kevin Love, Brandon Roy, Chase Budinger, Josh Howard and Malcolm Lee.

Gelabale does have some NBA experience. He played 109 games with the Seattle SuperSonics from 2006-08. He averaged just over 15 minutes per game in those two seasons before heading back overseas.

He will be the sixth Timberwolves player with an international background.

[Calinks]

Already got some footage of him working out at the Target Center.

[Murphs56]

From Zgoda: Turiaf on his french national teammate

"You're going to like him," Turiaf said.

Here's most of what Turiaf had to say:
"He's somebody who can slash to the basket, who can shoot threes very well. And he will do all the intangibles. People are always trying to put other people in boxes. He is a basketball player. He can score. He's going to do whatever he has to do to help the team win. Yes, he can play defense. But he's not just a defender."
Turiaf mentioned that Gelabale and Nicolas Batum, whom the Wolves pursued aggressively last summer, were the two French players who always defended the opposing team's best player.
"He is a good defender," Turiaf said. "A lock-down defender."
And just as importantly, he can shoot threes on a team that is struggling mightily to do so this season.
"He's very efficient and he has a nice little pull-up jumper. He can play in the paint very well. He has a nice little fade-away jumper. He plays both ways. He's a complete player.
"He has been looking for an opportunity to come back to the NBA, so I think he's very, very excited. And I think he deserves to be in this league because he's somebody that has a lot of talent and a lot to offer to a basketball squad. And the way you guys play here, with the Rick Adelman system, with the high post and the cut, with the team basketball?
"That's something that really will make his skill come out a lot."

[Calinks]

From Zgoda: Turiaf on his french national teammate

"You're going to like him," Turiaf said.

Here's most of what Turiaf had to say:
"He's somebody who can slash to the basket, who can shoot threes very well. And he will do all the intangibles. People are always trying to put other people in boxes. He is a basketball player. He can score. He's going to do whatever he has to do to help the team win. Yes, he can play defense. But he's not just a defender."
Turiaf mentioned that Gelabale and Nicolas Batum, whom the Wolves pursued aggressively last summer, were the two French players who always defended the opposing team's best player.
"He is a good defender," Turiaf said. "A lock-down defender."
And just as importantly, he can shoot threes on a team that is struggling mightily to do so this season.
"He's very efficient and he has a nice little pull-up jumper. He can play in the paint very well. He has a nice little fade-away jumper. He plays both ways. He's a complete player.
"He has been looking for an opportunity to come back to the NBA, so I think he's very, very excited. And I think he deserves to be in this league because he's somebody that has a lot of talent and a lot to offer to a basketball squad. And the way you guys play here, with the Rick Adelman system, with the high post and the cut, with the team basketball?
"That's something that really will make his skill come out a lot."

We are back in the playoff hunt baby!

[Murphs56]

From Zgoda: Turiaf on his french national teammate

"You're going to like him," Turiaf said.

Here's most of what Turiaf had to say:
"He's somebody who can slash to the basket, who can shoot threes very well. And he will do all the intangibles. People are always trying to put other people in boxes. He is a basketball player. He can score. He's going to do whatever he has to do to help the team win. Yes, he can play defense. But he's not just a defender."
Turiaf mentioned that Gelabale and Nicolas Batum, whom the Wolves pursued aggressively last summer, were the two French players who always defended the opposing team's best player.
"He is a good defender," Turiaf said. "A lock-down defender."
And just as importantly, he can shoot threes on a team that is struggling mightily to do so this season.
"He's very efficient and he has a nice little pull-up jumper. He can play in the paint very well. He has a nice little fade-away jumper. He plays both ways. He's a complete player.
"He has been looking for an opportunity to come back to the NBA, so I think he's very, very excited. And I think he deserves to be in this league because he's somebody that has a lot of talent and a lot to offer to a basketball squad. And the way you guys play here, with the Rick Adelman system, with the high post and the cut, with the team basketball?
"That's something that really will make his skill come out a lot."

We are back in the playoff hunt baby!

Based on my calculations before tonight, if this man is in shape and competently can defend and shoot a 3, we should win 3 of the next 5 against Atlanta, Washington and Charlotte. However, based on these new injuries, w'ell probably lose all 5. Stiemsma starting equals the end of civilization

[Basti]

Based on my calculations before tonight, if this man is in shape and competently can defend and shoot a 3, we should win 3 of the next 5 against Atlanta, Washington and Charlotte. However, based on these new injuries, w'ell probably lose all 5. Stiemsma starting equals the end of civilization

Amoundson backing him up is a slap into the face of the human extinction.

[FinnTheHuman]

The biggest problem for Gelabale is getting used to the 3 point line. Half a meter is a lot, even some former NBA players in Euroleague tend to shoot it too strong until they get used to it.