Capsule look at Timberwolves

LAST SEASON: 50-32, swept 3-0 by Dallas in the first round.

COACH: Flip Saunders, eighth season, 277-245.

ADDED: G Troy Hudson (free agent, Magic), G Kendall Gill (free agent, Heat), G Igor Rakocevic (2000 draft, KK Buducnost Podgorica-Yugoslavia).

LOST: G Chauncey Billups (free agent, Detroit), F Sam Mitchell (retired).

STRENGTHS: Hudson is a capable replacement for Billups at point guard until Terrell Brandon returns from major knee surgery. The Wolves did not do anything drastic in the offseason, which means Kevin McHale still believes he has the makings of a championship contender.

WEAKNESSES: Kevin Garnett has led the Wolves to 50 wins in two of the past three seasons, but he and his team have never made it out of the first round of the playoffs in six tries. Wally Szczerbiak may not feel secure until the trading deadline comes and goes.

WHAT THEY'LL DO: Not equipped to crack the West's elite.