Alas, the Celtics could not compete with Dallas’ offer of playing time and more money. For those of you who might mourn after missing out on Brewer, I remind you: behind Paul Pierce and Jeff Green, Brewer would have struggled to find the court at all. Brewer would have provided another defensive option and more depth, but he has a larger dose of Tony Allen in him than I enjoy.

The Mavericks were the right choice for Corey Brewer, and, so long as the Celtics’ wings remain reasonably healthy, Boston should not be very hurt by his decision.

The Boston Celtics are going after Corey Brewer like a Rick Pitino-coached team, which is not to say they’re going after him using Vitaly Potapenko, Andrew DeClerq and a whole slew of Kentucky players. They’re going after him with a full-court press. (ESPN)

It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that Boston is pushing as hard for Brewer as anyone, given that the Celts tried to trade for Brewer before Minnesota sent him to New York as part of the three-way Carmelo Anthony deal. Celtics president Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers are said to be Brewer fans and personally lobbying him. Hard.

But Boston and San Antonio, in this case, can’t compete financially with the Dallas Mavericks, who have their full mid-level exception remaining — worth just under $4 million as of Wednesday because the figure is reduced daily from its original $5.8 million at this juncture of the season — to comfortably exceed any offer the Celtics or Spurs could make.

The Celts actually have the least to pitch financially of the three teams, sitting more than $5 million over the luxury-tax threshold and limited to offering a pro-rated share of the league minimum just as they gave Murphy. With the Spurs only about $1 million away from the tax line and likewise only possessing cap exceptions worth $1.5 and $1.2 million, respectively, Dallas would appear to have a clear bidding advantage over their neighbors from the NBA elite, fitting as it might be to see Brewer wind up with the Spurs given the frequent comparisons linking Brewer to Bruce Bowen.

Fear not, though, Boston fans. Even though the Celtics don’t have as much playing time or money to offer Brewer as the two Texas teams, there might be a fallback plan: If Brewer signs somewhere else, Marc Stein says the Celtics could turn to Sasha Pavlovic. Who, it should be noted, has been rated the NBA’s absolute worst basketball player by at least one statistical measure.

With Jeff Green aboard, any player the Celtics sign for wing help would mostly serve as extra depth in the case of injury. Kelenna Azubuike was also bought out by the New York Knicks, though it’s unclear whether he’s healthy enough to provide any help. Though Azubuike shot 44.8% from downtown while adding 14.4 points per game in 2008-’09, he has played only nine games in the past two seasons. This season, he has yet to see action in a single game.

After Delonte West’s recent injury, it’s unclear whether the Celtics will look to add another point guard. Mike Bibby (notably spelled without a ‘D’) has offered a commitment to the Miami Heat, and the Heat waived Carlos Arroyo to open Bibby’s roster spot. Arroyo is not perfect for the Celtics, not by any means. But the Celtics need to decide whether they should add a veteran to spell Rajon Rondo in West’s absence, or whether they’re okay with Avery Bradley playing the freed minutes. West, who has played only eight games this year and fewer than 70 in all but one of his previous seven seasons, likely cannot be expected to play every game.

Corey Brewer received a surprising buyout from the New York Knicks, and the Boston Celtics are among the teams who have already expressed interest. (ESPN.com)

Sources say Boston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Dallas are among the teams with the most interest in Brewer, who joined the Knicks only last week as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal.

Brewer is known mostly as a defender, but, as Rob Mahoney noted for The New York Times’ Off The Dribble blog, “Brewer’s competent defense comes with a significant offensive trade-off.” In other words, he’s a solid defender who could not put the ball in the basket to save his dog’s life.

Many defenders excel simply by playing defense and leaving the offense to other, more skilled players. Think Thabo Sefolosha, or the cheap-shot artist formerly known as Bruce Bowen. But Brewer is not like those players. He actually, in Mahoney’s words, “fancies himself a more active participant in the offense, and unfortunately for the Wolves and now the Knicks, that mindset results in a lot of errant jumpers.”

Theoretically, playing with a contender could help Brewer see the light. He could look around at Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo and think, “Hey, you know what? I should never shoot the ball on this team, not in a million years. Everyone I see is so much better than I am.” Or he could continue to do what he’s done his whole career, which is shooting far too often for a player of his middling (to be kind) offensive caliber.

Offensive putridity aside, Brewer’s a young(-ish) wing with defensive talent, potentially available on the cheap. For a 12th or 13th man, the Celtics could do worse.

The season is approaching (but not quickly enough), so that means it’s NBA preview time. Starting with the league’s worst team and working our way to the top, we’ll preview one team per day.

Love must hate being stuck in Minnesota. Cold weather and bad basketball. Is there anything worse?

Minnesota Timberwolves

Last year’s record: 15-67
Head Coach: Kurt Rambis
Projected Starters: Jonny Flynn, Martell Webster, Corey Brewer, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love

Outlook:

Quite simply, not good. When the league’s second-worst team unloads its best player for a couple draft picks and a sack of potatoes (aka Kosta Koufos); re-signs the decade’s biggest bust for $20 million; holds its future in the hands of a pothead and a 19-year old Spaniard who may or may not play in the United States anytime soon; then takes out a full-page ad in a local newspaper to apologize; well, that team has been Kahn’d. And, for the foreseeable future at least, it has little hope.

X-Factor:

Michael Beasley. You know how he underacheived in Miami. He went to drug rehab, never found his niche, didn’t adjust well to the NBA game, couldn’t defend a soul — the list of Beasley’s shortcomings the past couple years is longer than Shawn Bradley’s arms. But underneath all the billows of marijuana smoke, there’s potential. We saw it at Kansas St., and we saw glimpses of it in Miami. If Beasley can get his life and game together, he could be a 25 and 10 type; he’s THAT talented. If not? He’ll be the second-biggest draft bust on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Biggest Question Mark:

Will Ricky Rubio ever play a game in a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey? I know that question doesn’t have anything to do with next year’s team. Then again, it’s tough to find a question about next year’s Timberwolves team worth answering. They’re going to be bad, and probably 2009-2010 New Jersey Nets bad. Rubio is a rare Spaniard of hope for a franchise in dire straits.

Most important newcomer:

Beasley, simply because he has — by far — the highest upside. But don’t sleep on Wesley Johnson. The Wolves could regret choosing Johnson ahead of DeMarcus Cousins, but the 6’7″ jumping jack might make an immediate impact on both ends of the court. Emphasis on might.

Biggest loss:

Al Jefferson. What? Did you think I was going to say Nathan Jawai?

Most compelling storyline:

Can it be anything but David Kahn? Kahn spent the summer doing his best Isiah Thomas impersonation, then called Darko Milicic a “manna from heaven.” It’s just a shame manna’s suck at basketball. Anyway, Kahn’s ineptitude is the only reason anyone’s discussed the Timberwolves this summer. Not only is he the most compelling storyline, but he’s pretty damn close to being the only storyline.

Player to watch:

Kevin Love. Mostly by default, but also because Love’s damn good. His averages last season? 14 points and 11 rebounds, in only 28.6 minutes. Can somebody please let Kurt Rambis in on a secret the rest of the NBA world seems to know? Love deserves more playing time.

Descriptive movie quote:

“Look – you’re my best friend, so don’t take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you’re still livin’ here, comin’ over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin’ construction, I’ll fuckin’ kill you. That’s not a threat; now, that’s a fact. I’ll fuckin’ kill you.” – Good Will Hunting

To Love, the only Timberwolf worth writing about. In twenty years, if Love’s still playing in Minnesota, wasting his unique talents on shitty teams surrounded by shitty players, I’ll fucking kill him. That’s not a threat; now, that’s a fact. I’ll fucking kill him. You know what the best part of my day is? It’s for about ten seconds from when I put on the TV to when I switch the channel to the Timberwolves game. Because I think maybe I’ll flip the station and Love won’t be there. No goodbye, no see you later, no nothin’. Just left. I don’t know much, but I know that.

Projected Record: 17-65. Mediocrity would be a drastic improvement for the Wolves. But mediocrity ain’t happening any time soon.

There was very little positive for the Minnesota Timberwolves to take away from last night’s 152-114 demolition at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.

But there was one shining moment, and it was Corey Brewer’s dunk on Robin Lopez’s goofy-haired head.

You might remember Brewer from this, and this.