Chase Budinger took a step forward in his recovery from a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, being cleared for on-court running and agility drills, seemingly the last step before practicing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Budinger will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks, eyeing a return to game action in March.

Budinger, who suffered the injury just six games into the season and has not played since, would need a few practices before coming back.

Kevin Love is hoping to return in time to play in the final 15 to 20 games of the season for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Love fractured the third metacarpal in his right hand on Jan. 3.

“It’s progressively getting stronger,” Love said. “With the weights and with everything I’m doing to improve range of motion. Hopefully I’ll shoot the ball better this time.”

Love is hoping to return at some point in March, but a definitive date has not been set.

Andrei Kirilenko is retiring from the Russian national team for family reasons.

“I was thinking in summertime I don’t have enough time with my kids,” he said. “My wife and kids, I want to be around them. I don’t want to be dad who’s spending two hours and then you don’t see your kids. It’s a hard decision.

“It’s kind of a dilemma: Going around the globe, playing basketball, have fun or spend your time with your kids and have fun and see how they’re growing. You want to be around them at this kind of age when they’re growing, they start playing hockey, start playing basketball. You want to see the improvement, not only in sports but the person.

“It’s a tough decision but sooner or later, it’s going to happen. We had the generation of (Sergei) Belov, (Arvydas) Sabonis, then the next generation and now the next generation.”

Kirilenko led Russia to a bronze medal finish at the 2012 Olympics.

Brandon Roy has not worked out with the Minnesota Timberwolves and doesn't know where he stands with his ailing right knee, and Rick Adelman admits the team does not expect the veteran guard to return this season.

"If he does play, it will be a pleasant surprise," Adelman said before the Wolves' game Wednesday night, Feb. 20, against Philadelphia at Target Center. "I don't expect him at this point."

The Timberwolves reportedly are pursuing a settlement with Roy if they are unable to trade him by Thursday's trade deadline.

J.J. Redick will be looking for a four-year, $40 millon contract on the free agent market, according to sources.

Redick is unlikely to get a deal that hits $10 million annually, but teams with interest in dealing for him contend a $7 million per season amount is likely.

The Pacers, Bucks, Bulls and Wolves have been interested in Redick.

The Magic are willing to re-sign Redick at a deal at approximately $5 million per season.

The Denver Nuggets rejected an offer of Brandon Roy and a first round pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Timofey Mozgov, according to sources.

The Nuggets are motivated to trade Mozgov, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason and is unlikely to be retained.

Minnesota wants to include Roy in a trade because he is not expected to play again and his 13-14 contract is non-guaranteed.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been active in trade talks, offering multiple first round picks in exchange for an established talents, according to sources.

The Wolves are nearly eight games out of the eighth seed as they have struggled to win consistently amid injuries to several key players.

Glen Taylor met with Kevin Love this week to discuss the direction of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"Kevin said he's really positive about playing here and staying here," said Taylor. "That he has always said to me; he's always been positive with me."

Love has three years after this season on a $62 million, four-year contract he signed in 2012.

"I think Kevin and I are on the same page -- we've been on the same page -- so that's fine," Taylor said. "We're talking about going ahead. He wants to know how we're going to do next year, what we're going to do."

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced on Friday that they have signed Chris Johnson and Mickael Gelabale for the rest of the season while releasing Lou Amundson to make room on the roster.

Both Gelebale and Johnson have played well in their stints with the Timberwolves over two 10-day contracts.

Gelabale has averaged 6.5 points and three rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.

Johnson has averaged 8.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15 minutes per game.

Nikola Pekovic can become a restricted free agent after this season, but he hopes to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"I like everything about Minnesota," Pekovic said. "First of all, I like the team. I think we can do a lot when we're healthy. I like the coaching staff."

Pekovic has not engaged in contract talks with the Timberwolves.

Pekovic is making $4.6 million this season.