Greetings from Target Center, where the Wolves just finished their morning shoot minus the still-ailing Mo Williams.
Williams, who missed practice Monday and Tuesday, is still questionable for tonight's game. It will likely be a game-time decision. If he cannot play rookie Zach LaVine would likely move into the starting point guard spot. But then the question is who plays backup minutes there?
There are no other real ball-handling guards healthy enough to suit up. I would imagine coach Flip Saunders would use some combination of Andrew Wiggins, Corey Brewer or Shabazz Muhammad to handle the ball in a pinch.
Perhaps the Wolves could suit up Lindsay Whalen, who will be in the building being honored for her FIBA Gold Medal during tonight's game. Just a thought.
Also out tonight: Ricky Rubio and Kevin Martin of course. Centers Nikola Pekovic (wrist, ankle) and Ronny Turiaf (hip) are also out.
Meanwhile, Thaddeus Young will return to action for the first time in six games following the death of his Mother, Lula Hall, from breast cancer. Young was very honest and well-spoken about his ordeal on Monday, when he returned to practice for the first time.
On Tuesday the Wolves put out a statement from Young thanking friends, teammates and people from all around the league for their well-wishes. He also made a point of advocating for routine breast exams. "It is up to all of us to encourage women to get screened to help avoid the ravages of this deadly disease," he said.
Tonight, after getting official permission from the league, all of the Wolves will wear pink shoelaces to raise awareness of breast cancer. The idea was spearheaded by team GM Milt Newton, who called the league to ask how the Wolves might honor Young's mother.
"I just thing something needs to be done," Young said after today's morning shoot. "A lot of people they go throughout their lives without going to the doctor, without the proper procedures to get tested. … Me, personally, I think something should definitely be done, and people should urge other people to do so.''
Young said his mother discovered her cancer not during a routine testing procedure but after finding a lump in her breast.
Young thanked Newton for securing permission from the league to wear the shoelaces, and to his teammates for showing their support.
"It was cool the league allowed us to do that," Wolves rookie Zach LaVine said. "I was all for it, the whole team was all for it. It's going to be special for [Young], and we're going to go out there and play our hearts out."
That's about it for now. I'll get back to you pre-game with an update on Williams.
