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Trading Places

Some times trading places can actually be a good thing, just ask Sam Cassel and Marko Jaric. In the summer, Minnesota sent the always disgruntled Cassel to LA in a sign-and-trade for Jaric. Cassel has been instrumental in the Clippers turnaround, while Jaric has had some troubles adjusting to his new surroundings. After three years with the Clippers, the guard from Serbia moved two time zones closer to home and signed a six-year contract with the Timberwolves.

In the opposite direction went Sam Cassell on a tail end of what Kevin McHale called a `failed experiment` with the Wolves. In training camp, once Cassell finally decided to put on a Clippers jersey, he also wore a chip on his shoulder, publicly questioning Jaric as his replacement in Minnesota.

The Wolves understands that Jaric needs time to adjust his game and get used to having a superstar on his team, a superstar that thinks highly of him and rightfully has expectations to match. Also helping Jaric adjust to the new coaching scheme is the Wolves assistant coach Alexandar Dzikic, a countryman of Marko`s.