http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/stack_vsl_060706.html timberwolves.com: What is the process behind assembling a summer league team? Jim Stack: It's a matter of talking to a lot of agents. Getting a lot of different lists and then going over them with our staff and getting a grouping of guys that you like. Then you have to follow up with the agents and get them to commit to your program. You're selling opportunity and playing time in a summer league with the chance to come back in the fall and potentially make a roster. timberwolves.com: Where do the summer league players come from? Jim Stack: They come from all over. They can be guys that played overseas the last few years. They can be players that did not get selected in the most recent draft. We have some guys like Reece Gaines and Ansu Sesay who have some experience in the NBA. Obviously we bring in the guys we drafted (Randy Foye, Craig Smith) and we have some of the veterans like Eddie Griffin and Bracey Wright here as well. So in the end we have drafted, undrafted, veterans, Europeans. Guys from all leagues and walks of life. timberwolves.com: What does the team hope to accomplish in the summer league? Jim Stack: I think for us the primary thing is that we want to get a system of play that we can became accustomed to using in the fall. This is a little bit of experimental ground in that we can put in some stuff in and see some different things. We can get a fell for what we like and don't like. Secondly we take this time to evaluate guys and see who can fit in with our program going forward. We want to come back in the fall with a clear idea on how we want to play. We spend a lot of time talking about that as a staff. I think we are using this summer league to experiment with some things. We want to go into training camp with a clear idea of how we are going to play on both ends of the courts and in our transition games. timberwolves.com: Is summer league a time to look at the talent stocked on other rosters? Jim Stack: Absolutely. You use it as a great opportunity to see all the young talent around the league. There are 16 teams here in Las Vegas so I will be here watching all the games and making notes on guys and talking to other general managers around the league to see what's going on. We are always looking for ways to improve the team and this is a good venue to be out and get a good look at a lot of players all in one setting. timberwolves.com: What are your observations on the team after watching the first three days of summer league practice? Jim Stack: Number one is the energy has been very good. Guys are getting a lot thrown at them and I believe they are absorbing it pretty well. Summer league is always a crash course. You only have two or three days to put in a lot of stuff so they can get out on the floor and be competitive. I am very happy with the way the guys have gotten after it, despite still learning what is being put in. There is a thinking phase that they need to go through, so that they can get out on the floor and just play instinctively. The second thing is I think we got a pretty good group of guys who have played on a high level, both in college and internationally. These players are all trying to make their mark in the league and the competition is fierce. We are looking forward to good things from this group. --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.229.89.13