Minnesota Timberwolves forward Craig Smith is expected to miss at least the next two weeks after X-rays revealed a small break in his injured ribs, coach Kevin McHale said today.
McHale also said in the strongest possible terms that the team is not looking to trade shooting guard Mike Miller before the Feb. 19 NBA deadline. "As I always say, if they offer Kobe (Bryant), we'll definitely consider that," McHale said after today's practice. "But are we looking to trade him? No."
Miller's name has come up in trade rumors involving the New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers, but McHale said the Wolves aren't actively shopping him.
"You never say never, but we're not looking to trade Mike Miller," McHale said. "We couldn't be happier with Mike. If calls come in, of course you listen to them. Everybody calls each other, but I tell you what, I'd be beyond shocked if we traded him."
Smith injured his ribs in the first quarter of Tuesday's win at Indiana and will not accompany the Wolves on their weekend road trip to Houston and New Orleans.
That means rookie Kevin Love will continue to start at power forward, as he did in Wednesday's loss to Atlanta, in which he had 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Exactly when Smith will return is uncertain.
"It's so hard to say," McHale said. "It's going to be tolerance. He's a really tough kid, but I would assume with the amount of pain he's in right now, that's not going to alleviate itself in a week to 10 days. Then he's also got to be able to play and get banged there, too, so I'd say a minimum of a couple weeks."
