LOS ANGELES - The Timberwolves on Monday made a $3.7 million wager on third-year guard Corey Brewer's promise, his surgically repaired knee and an often iffy jump shot.
Wolves boss David Kahn exercised team options for the 2010-11 season on Brewer and second-year forward Kevin Love and declined to do so on third-year forward Oleksiy Pecherov.
Love's $3.6 million extension was certain, Pecherov's $2.3 million extension unlikely. Brewer's was the one that took some thought, and perhaps some faith.
Kahn said he extended Love and Brewer because he is convinced both players desire to be great. He did so also because he said Brewer will become a better shooter, the shortcoming in his game thus far.
"I do," Kahn said. "Not today. It'd be way too premature to suggest that he will ever become a natural shooter or prolific shooter. But as he and I have discussed very candidly, he has to become a reliable shooter in this league or he won't play."
Kahn waited until Monday's NBA deadline and informed all three players on the same day.
"I didn't really think about it," Brewer said. "It was either going to happen or it wasn't going to happen. I'm happy it happened, though. It's always good to know you have a guaranteed job. I like being here and I want to be a Timberwolf.
"I felt I needed to prove I could still play, because I didn't play for a whole year and the rookie year I had wasn't very good."