McHale: Guard pickups made Banks expendable http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/15681101.htm The Timberwolves wanted to re-sign point guard Marcus Banks this summer as a backup to Mike James. But vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said this week the team felt confident acquiring James in free agency and Randy Foye on draft night left the Wolves in good shape if Banks didn't return. McHale said he wanted to sign a veteran point guard to be the starter. Having an inexperienced player such as Banks in the starting lineup just didn't fit the team's plans. After James was brought on board to be the starter, Foye become an attractive backup. That left Banks on the outside. Banks eventually signed a five-year, $21 million free-agent contract with Phoenix "I think he's a great kid," McHale said of Banks. "I just thought that we're in a situation where with Kevin (Garnett) and his age, grooming a young guy is OK, but I'd rather have a veteran guy in there. It just got down to the point to where I felt as confident in Randy as I did in Marcus. That's no slight on Marcus. That's how comfortable I am in Randy. I just felt that overall Randy would be a better basketball player for us, not only this year but in years to come." McHale said he likes Foye's poise and that he's better able to pull the ball back and operate in the half-court offense. McHale said Banks struggled at times in the half-court offense during his half-season with Minnesota after being traded by Boston. Foye is a promising player, but the addition of James is the team's biggest roster upgrade. And he's a veteran, which helps make Garnett happier. "I thought that to win right now we needed to go out and get a guy who takes big shots and makes big shots in Mike James," McHale said. Briefly: Veteran forward Vin Baker said Wednesday evening that his first two days of Wolves training camp have gone smoothly. His body has responded well, he said, and the familiarity with the terminology coach Dwane Casey uses has been a bonus. "My stamina's getting better," said Baker, who played in Seattle when Casey was an assistant there. "Obviously, knowing coach Casey's plays, they're starting to click right back. That could have been an issue, but I know the majority of coach Casey's plays. Sometimes the (age) 34 shows up, when I first get to the gym, but once I get going it's back to business." --

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