Here are five observations of the Minnesota Timberwolves:

	Flip Saunders hopes to add parts of the Lakers' and Nets' offenses.

1. The Timberwolves, particularly with coach Flip Saunders coaching the U.S. team in the summer of 2001, were the best in the early going last season in using the new zone defense rules to their advantage. But by midseason, teams caught up and, with the combination of Terrell Brandon's knee problems, the Timberwolves faded despite being one of the league's best offensive teams in 2001-02 (fifth in the league in scoring, fifth in field-goal percentage, second in assists and fourth in fewest turnovers). After averaging 101 points through the season's first four months, they tailed off to about 95 per game in March and April. NBA teams always like to try what works, so Saunders says he'll run a new offense which incorporates the Lakers' triangle offense and some of the Princeton model Byron Scott, who coached with Pete Carrill in Sacramento, used with the Nets. They're also experimenting with a big front line using centers Rasho Nesterovic and Loren Woods.

2. Kevin Garnett's attitude -- and game -- is terrific. Garnett took a beating from some big name critics, namely Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, in last season's playoffs. Both said he had to step up and carry his team down the stretch. Garnett put up big numbers but shot just 43 percent as he forced shots late in games while Dallas swept Minnesota. He used a TV commercial and national magazine to obliquely condemn teammates and management for not giving him enough support. He admitted he was upset with his performance and said he wasn't even in the right state of mind to play with Team USA this summer. But he came into camp saying he was motivated and wanted to be the team's leader for years to come.

3. Joe Smith, though not necessarily his fault, will always live with the tag of ruining the franchise. The Timberwolves' illegal signing of Smith cost them four years of No. 1 draft picks and stalled their chances to build with Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak. But Smith has proven to be frail, fragile and disappointing. The 1995 No. 1 overall pick came back to Minnesota last season to average 10.7 points and get pushed around again. The Timberwolves need him to develop, perhaps by playing small forward again to use Garnett more at power forward. But Smith hurt his groin and has missed all of the team's preseason games. He probably won't be ready for the opening of the regular season. Smith is the team's only chance to provide cover for Garnett and Szczerbiak, but he has yet to respond.

4. Can Wally and KG just get along? Their feud percolated near the surface again last season. Wally likes to shoot. KG likes to pass. KG is looked upon by teammates as the leader. Wally isn't. Wally yells for the ball. Kevin looks the other way. Szczerbiak missed much of the preseason with a dislocated toe. Both he and Garnett didn't agree to extensions, though the team says it wants to retain both. The question for the franchise is whether they are compatible, and if they are your two best players, can you eventually go anywhere? Can you start 30-10 again like last year?

5. So, what's the deal? No one like ice fishing? The offseason was a disaster. The Timberwolves lost backup point Chauncey Billups in free agency, and rumors persist that Terrell Brandon wants to retire. Minnesota was a .500 team after Brandon got hurt last season. There's no timetable for his return, so the Timberwolves, out of desperation, acquired Orlando backup swing guard Troy Hudson to play the point. Center Nesterovic tried to leverage a sign-and-trade to New York and is an unrestricted free agent. They got outbid, or outfinagled, in deals for Antonio Daniels, Ricky Davis, Rodney Rogers and Jeff McInnis. They lost Travis Best to Miami. They'll still be looking for a point guard, but how do they get one? Hello, Rod Strickland? And if Nesterovic plays well, they may have to trade him at midseason or risk losing him as a free agent -- and hope Marc Jackson has something he hasn't shown yet in Minnesota.

Sam Smith, who covers the NBA for the Chicago Tribune, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.