http://www.startribune.com/507/story/1132730.html This season has been a disaster for the Timberwolves, and there could be a lot of changes before next season with some players not sure they want to come back. Guard Bracey Wright, a second-round draft choice in 2005, is a free agent and says he definitely won't re-sign with the Wolves. Guard Mike James, who has a contract calling for three more years at $18 million and had a very inconsistent year, says he isn't sure he wants to come back. "The whole season has been difficult, you know what I mean?" James said. "We've been trying to find our niche the whole entire season, and for some odd reason, we never found it. We have to re-evaluate things, the front office has to re-evaluate things, and we'll go from there." Guard Marko Jaric, with a contract calling for $27 million over four years after being acquired from the Clippers for Sam Cassell and a No. 1 draft choice, didn't sound very happy when asked about his future following Wednesday's season finale, a loss to the last-place Grizzlies. "Chemistry is players willing to sacrifice themselves for the team," Jaric said. "We don't do it purposefully. Maybe we just don't know how to do it. " Troy Hudson, another guard, has a three years left on a contract calling for a total of $19 million, and he wants out. The Wolves could buy out his contract if not successful in a trade. Tickets a hard sell The deadline to buy Timberwolves season tickets has passed, and only 64 percent of the holders have renewed. The indications are strong that even the most loyal season ticket holders are going to wait until they see if the team puts together a roster good enough to make the playoffs. While coach Randy Witt- man talked about a lot of changes before next year, it's obvious some of the players are anxious to change, too, and would welcome a trade. Talent wins games, but this team's chemistry was likely the worst of any team in Timberwolves history. The situation is so bad that Wittman said he is ready to trade players who have superior talent for players who have less talent but will play hard every game. "It needs a shake-up, I think. We have to make changes; the roster is unbalanced a little bit," Wittman said. "We don't have bigs that can guard bigs, we have perimeters -- we have just a lot of different things that need to be done. We have to find guys that are caring for one another to play with one another. I just don't think we have that with this mix. "We've got a lot of things to look at. Number one, we've got a lot of soul-searching [to do] from an individual standpoint. Number two ... we should be disappointed. I'm disappointed. I think everyone in that locker room should feel disappointed." Last Sunday's loss to Golden State, who earned a playoff spot ahead of the Wolves, was another agonizing reminder, Wittman said. "You look and they have 39 wins, and we have 32 wins, after 80 games," he said. "That is so close, that should even make you feel more depressed. You're seven games out of the playoffs after all that we have gone through. ... That should hurt all of us, and if it doesn't, we have to find guys that it does hurt." The Timberwolves finished tied with the sixth-worst record in the league, so they should get a decent lottery pick. They have one second-round draft acquired from Philadelphia. This could be in the area of a 40th pick. But if they want to sell any tickets, this has to be an offseason of big changes. Jottings Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor won't talk about it, nor will Kevin Garnett, but the gossip around the Target Center is that Garnett recently talked to Taylor about a contract extension. Garnett is signed through next season, then becomes a free agent. Rob Moor, chief executive officer of the Timberwolves, is negotiating with Wittman's agent on a new multiyear contract for the coach, and the deal will be completed soon. ... After having Flip Saunders, Kevin McHale and Dwane Casey coach the Wolves, there won't be any changes for some time. McHale and Wittman have a great relationship, and that helps. Incidentally, Wittman will likely bring back most of the coaches who have one more year on their contracts. Loukas Mavrokefalidis, the Wolves second-round draft choice from Greece last year, had a very ordinary season with his club in Europe and isn't ready to help the Wolves. He might take part with the Timberwolves in the summer Vegas tournament. Craig Smith, Rashad McCants and Randy Foye will definitely take part in that tournament. The Bearpath Golf & Country Club residential area in Eden Prairie sold two big houses to ex-Gophers coach Dan Monson and former Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper when both were employed here. The neighboring houses will be occupied by new owners. Rich Beem, who won the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in 2002, sang the praises of the course while here this week to talk about the 2009 tournament that returns to Hazeltine. "I absolutely love the golf course there, a lot of fun to play. Very fair, very stern test of golf," Beem said. "They set the golf course up immaculately. It was fantastic, and hats off to them for doing such a great job. It's going to be even better in 2009, I can guarantee you that." Winning the PGA was worth $10 million to $15 million, he said, counting endorsements, appearance fees and other benefits. Add another former local marketing representative besides Tim Lieweke and Dana Warg with the AEG company who will help manage the Target Center. Shawn Hunter was formerly assistant athletic director at the University of Minnesota and was an account executive with the Timberwolves. Reggie Berg, an Anoka native who played for the Gophers from 1996-1999, became the Florida Everblades (ECHL) all-time points leader this season. Berg had 29 goals and 35 assists in 58 games this season. ... Minnesotans Jamie Langenbrunner, Cloquet, and Zach Parise, Bloomington, are the top two scorers for the New Jersey Devils in three playoff games. Langenbrunner has one goal and four assists and Parise had four goals ... Rosemount native Tom Preissing has one goal and one assist in four games for the Ottawa Senators. --

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