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PF/C Kosta Koufos (CSKA Moscow)

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Wolves exercise 2011-12 options on five players
Posted by Jerry Zgoda
Last update: November 1, 2010

As expected, the Timberwolves today exercised 2011-12 contract options on Kevin Love, Micheal Beasley, Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington and Kosta Koufos.

Here's how the money for those extensions breaks down:

Beasley, $6.3 million

Love, $4.6 million

Flynn, $3.4 million

Koufos, $2.2 million

Ellington, $1.1 million

The only one of those that's a bit of a surprise is Koufos, who the Wolves were ready to move on to any willing takers when they accepted his contract in last summer's Al Jefferson at Utah's request.

But from what they've seen so far, they like his size, his agility, his shooting and he's active. And he's young, just 21.

He's also a relatively small number -- $2.2 million -- on their cap space.

Those five are all second- and third-year players who had team options on their contract.
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/w...8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
 
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Happy to hear that the Timberwolves picked up Koufos' contract.

I've known Koufos a little for the past couple of years, as I graduated from GlenOak High School two classes ahead of him, and we also lived in the same dorm during his one year at OSU. Koufos is a nice, hard-working man, and if he gets time to develop in Minnesota these next two years, he could end up a good player for the Timberwolves.

What Koufos didn't get in Utah was the chance to develop, as Jerry Sloan is known for not playing rookies very much, and that hurt him going into his second season. Now, with the T'Wolves being a young team, Koufos should get a good opportunity to develop and get some good in-game action so he can begin to reach his potential.
 
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BQmj9dYjfU"]YouTube - Kosta Koufos Blocks Carlos Delfino 10.29.2010[/ame]

Kosta%2BKoufas%2BMinnesota%2BTimberwolves%2Bv%2BMiami%2BfHx5jy6g44nl.jpg
 
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Injuries leave Koufos as Wolves' primary center option
Kosta Koufos was forced into the starting lineup with injuries to Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic.
By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune
Last update: December 18, 2010

DENVER - The Timberwolves on Saturday again played without their top two centers, this time for the entire game at Denver.

Starter Darko Milicic and rookie reserve Nikola Pekovic both sat out because of sprained ankles suffered in Friday's 107-102 loss at Portland. Neither was healthy enough to play Saturday.

Pekovic's injury appears to be the more serious. He aggravated the same sprained left ankle that kept him out of nine games earlier this season.

Milicic said he wants to give his right ankle one more day to heal and hopes to play Monday against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

"I'm really going to try to take caution," Milicic said.

Milicic was injured on Friday's opening tip, when he came down and landed on Blazers center LaMarcus Aldridge's foot. He tumbled to the floor in a game-starting incident that Wolves veteran guard Luke Ridnour called unlike any he has seen in his career.

Milicic had to look at game footage to determine what happened. He has sprained ankles before, but not like this. Milicic injured his right leg, which was farthest from Aldridge as he jumped for the ball. "My right leg went back, he went into me and I landed on his foot," Milicic said.

Milicic got up and played 57 seconds before going to the locker room. Pekovic played two minutes before also spraining his ankle.

"I was doing X-rays and then I saw Pek come in and I said, 'No way, not two big guys going down,' " Milicic said.

Pekovic re-injured the same sprained ankle that caused him to miss nine games earlier this season. "Same place," Pekovic said, shaking his head and pointing to the inside of his left ankle wrapped in ice before Saturday's game.
Kosta time

With Milicic and Pekovic both out, third-year big man Kosta Koufos -- little used until Friday -- started at center and played big minutes for the second consecutive evening.

"I always prepare myself for every game because you never know," said Koufos, who had a career-high 11 rebounds in 25 minutes in Portland on Friday. "Funny things happen in this league."
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/w...o8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_2yc:a_ncyD_MDCiU
 
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Canton family cheers for Koufos
By Jason Lloyd
Beacon Journal sports writer
Dec 26, 2010

CLEVELAND: Kosta Koufos' best Christmas present was the NBA schedule, which allowed him to spend the holiday at home with family in Canton.

The Minnesota Timberwolves reserve had about 25 friends and family in attendance at Sunday's game against the Cavaliers.

''I was blessed and fortunate enough to see my family for Christmas,'' he said. ''It was refreshing to get to sleep in my own bed and it brought back memories.''

Koufos received another early present when Martell Webster smashed him in the nose during practice on Christmas Eve. He wore a mask during the first half on Sunday, but didn't use it for the second half.

The GlenOak graduate is averaging 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in his first season with the Timberwolves after beginning his career with the Utah Jazz. Sunday.
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http://www.ohio.com/sports/112486594.html
 
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Thanks to Mehmet

Friday was the first time Wolves center Kosta Koufos was back in Utah, playing against the team that drafted him.

Koufos was picked 23rd overall by Utah in 2008. He came to the Jazz as a 19-year-old with one college season at Ohio State under his belt.

"I got the benefit of being coached by Jerry Sloan," he said. "It was a great experience for me. Being in the playoffs was a very good experience for a young player."

Koufos appeared in 84 games for Utah over two seasons before going to Minnesota as part of the Al Jefferson trade.

He has not played a lot for the Wolves of late, appearing in just one of nine games and did not dress Friday night. But the Wolves see potential in the 7-0, 275-pound Koufos over the long term.

Koufos credited his work with Utah center Mehmet Okur for the work ethic that has him continuing to work despite a lack of playing time.

"He was a great mentor for me," Koufos said. "I learned to stay patient, maintain my confidence. Things don't always go your way, but you continue to work hard, stay focused."
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http://www.startribune.com/sports/w...o8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_2yc:a_ncyD_MDCiU
 
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Minnesota detour: Catchin' up with Koufos

Being in Minneapolis a day ahead of the game, I decided to take in the Timberwolves' game against the Denver Nuggets tonight. NBA locker rooms are open to the media for 45 minutes before tipoff, so I had a chance to ask Kosta Koufos if he plans to see his former team play the Gophers today.

He can't, he said. The Wolves will be flying to New Orleans for a game Monday night. But he said he's tried to stay abreast of the Buckeyes as much as he can this season.

"They?re having a great year," Koufos said. "Coach Matta?s done a wonderful job with the team, and you?ve got to give credit to the players. All of them play hard and they play very well."

Koufos, in his third NBA season, has played in 34 games and is averaging about eight minutes for the Wolves after joining them last summer in a trade from Utah. He had a career-high 11 rebounds in a December game and made his only start the next night. But going into tonight's game, he had played in only three of the previous 12 games.

Here's the rest of our conversation:

Q: How has your season been going?

A: When I?ve been given an opportunity, I?ve played very well. They re-signed me for my fourth-year option (for 2011-12), which is good. They like me here. I?m going to continue to work hard and get better.

Q: What do you have to do to get more consistent playing time?

A: Just continue to work hard. It?s a grind. But at the same time, I enjoy what I do and I love this game. You?ve just got to come in every night and be prepared and ready to play, and if your number?s not called, that?s fine, you?ve just got to stay mentally prepared. I feel like I?ve done that.

Q: That's different from high school and college, isn't it? Is that what they call being a pro?

A: Definitely. You have to grow up at an early age. At the same time, I?m still young. I?ve still got some work to do, but I feel confident in what I can bring to the table in the NBA.

Q: You came to Ohio State with Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale. You ever think this could be your senior year, playing on an undefeated team ranked No.1 in the nation?

A: That?s the past. I wish them the best. I still cheer them on and still support them. Right now, I?ve got to focus on what I need to focus on.

Q: A few of us were talking the other day about what it would be like having you and Jared Sullinger in the high post and low post this season.

A: That would have been a good one-two punch. Jared Sullinger?s a heck of a player and he?s got a very bright future ahead of him.

Q: Do you still talk with Diebler?

A: A little bit here and there. He?s been doing well. I wish him the best.

Cont...
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http://blog.dispatch.com/hoopsscoops/2011/02/minnesota_detour_catchin_up_wi_1.shtml
 
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I'm a Timberwolves fan myself, and I REALLY wish they would give Koufos some more minutes instead of Darko. I'm actually kind of glad Milicic is out right now..hopefully Kosta makes the most of this opportunity for him.
 
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Sure, by his standards. The fact is that the Wolves' were losing consistently with Darko, but have been pretty competitive in the games he has been out thus far. Everyone is still waiting for Milicic to live up to expectations. I just don't think he's worth investing that much playing time, when a guy like Koufos has been (IMO) very productive with the minutes he's been given.
 
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