MINNEAPOLIS -- For a guy who was drafted second overall just three years ago, Derrick Williams has enjoyed precious little security in his short time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Frank Brian Jersey . His name has been the subject of trade rumours almost from the moment he was drafted, and he has spent his first two seasons in the league trying to get on the same page with Wolves coach Rick Adelman while grasping the complexities of learning two positions. So when he finally gets a little something to hold on to, its no surprise that Williams is appreciative. Timberwolves president Flip Saunders informed Williams on Tuesday morning that the team will pick up his contract option for next season, guaranteeing the $6.3 million on the deal. "I think everybody knows that if they didnt pick up my option I would have been unrestricted (free agent) and, basically, could have done whatever," Williams said after practice. "So it helps, the security. Youre guaranteed at least one more year in the NBA, you know? And, as long as you have that, I think everything is good." The decision by the Timberwolves doesnt mean Williams wont continue to see his name in the trade rumour mill. Hes still adjusting to playing two positions -- small forward in addition to his more natural power forward -- and he admits he still has a lot to learn on both ends of the court. "Its tough. Especially when, ever since Ive been here, Ive heard trade rumours," Williams said. "Really since I was picked. So it seems like every other day there is something new." But hes also just 22 years old, and Saunders sees him as a young asset that deserves the chance to continue to develop. Williams is the second-leading scorer for the Wolves in the preseason and has a chance to be the teams starting small forward while Chase Budinger recovers from a knee injury. Adelman said he has been pleased with how hard Williams has been working, which appears to be progress for a coach who hasnt always been happy with the youngsters effort. "I think hes played very hard," Adelman said. "He rebounded the ball very well the other night (against Boston) and its a process for him. Its kind of a disadvantage when he has to play two spots because youre jumping back and forth. Right now thats what we have to do." Williams averaged 15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and shot 34 per cent from 3-point range over the final 33 games of the season while filling in at power forward for the injured Kevin Love. But with Love back this season, Williams will have to be able to play small forward to get significant minutes. He feels more confident this year than he ever has, so much so that he thinks he should be starting on opening night against Orlando on Oct. 30. "I think I deserve to be," Williams said. "Thats why they drafted me here. They didnt draft me to come off the bench, things like that. Ultimately, its up to Coach. Im just here to play basketball." Christian Laettner Jersey . - Joao Plata scored twice in the final 24 minutes, including the winner in stoppage time, to help Real Salt Lake remain unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over the winless Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Walt Bellamy Jersey . Bjoerndalen broke the record he shared with cross-country skiing great Bjoern Daehlie, also matching his fellow Norwegians record of eight gold medals. Bjoerndalen earlier won gold in Sochi in the mens sprint biathlon. https://www.cheaphawks.com/1054r-mel-hutchins-jersey-hawks.html . Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp said there was no new information on the 80-year-old Hall of Famers condition. The family has requested privacy.NHL action returns to Canadas Sports Leader with TSN delivering 150 national regular season games during the 2013-14 season. Eighty-one games will air on TSN and 69 games will air on TSN2. In addition to live game coverage, you can expect to see extensive NHL coverage across all TSN Digital, TSN Radio, and TEAM Radio platforms. Highlighting the TSN schedule is the annual Hockey Hall of Fame game that airs on the network for the first time, 72 games featuring Canadian teams in action and the return of Wednesday Night Hockey. TSN will also broadcast six pre-season games featuring all Canadian teams. In addition to its national broadcast package, TSN will also broadcast 63 regional Winnipeg Jets games on TSN Jets and 30 regional Montreal Canadiens games on TSN Canadiens. RDS returns with French-language coverage of all Montreal Canadiens games. RDS and RDS2 will confirm its package of games featuring other NHL teams in the coming days. Hockey Hall of Fame Game Highlighting TSNs 2013-14 NHL regular season broadcast schedule is the Hockey Hall of Fame game - airing for the first time on TSN. Featuring the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:30pm et on TSN, the Hockey Hall of Fame game honours 2013 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Scott Niedermayer, Chris Chelios, Brendan Shanahan, Geraldine Heaney and Stanley Cup-winning head coach Fred Shero. NHL ON TSN Highlights Regular season coverage kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 7:30pm et on TSN with the Toronto Maple Leafs visiting the Philadelphia Flyers (Visit TSN.ca for the full schedule). - Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby face off against each other for the first time as the Avalanche visit the Penguins on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7:30pm et (TSN2)- Daniel Alfredssons return to Ottawa on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5:30pm et - Jarome Iginlas return to Calgary on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 9:30pm et - Alain Vigneaults return to Vancouver on Tuesday, Apr. 1 at 10pm et - The Hockey Hall of Fame game featuring New Jersey at Toronto on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:30pm et- 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series outdoor game featuring NY Rangers @ NY Islanders on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7pm et - 17 Toronto Maple Leafs games- 15 Montreal Canadiens games- 10 games each for the Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks- 5 Winnipeg Jets games- 5 all-Canadian match-ups Additional highlights include: - 12 double-headers on TSN (six double-headers on TSN2)- 9 Original Six match-ups on TSN (five games on TSN2)- 6 games featuring the Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks on TSN (seven games on TSN2)- 6 games featuring Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on TSN (13 games on TSN2)- 5 games featuring 2013 Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on TSN (nine games on TSN2)- 6 Preseason games – featuring all Canadian teams NHL Specials In addition to its package of regular season and playoff games, TSN has exclusive Canadian coverage of the NHL Draft Lottery, NHL Draft, and the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction celebration. Shareef Abdur-Rahim Jersey. TSN complements this exclusive lineup with its own signature NHL specials including TradeCentre, Free Agent Frenzy, NHL Fantasy Draft, Top 50 Players and Bob McKenzies Draft Ranking. News and Studio Shows TSNs best-in-class team of hockey Insiders, analysts, and reporters have the NHL covered from all angles, delivering extensive news, reports, and analysis throughout the season. Along with the NHL on TSNs studio show, Gino Reda helms his daily hockey magazine show, Thats Hockey, while Thats Hockey 2 Nite with host Steve Kouleas continues to be the ultimate destination for nightly NHL highlights. NHL coverage is also featured prominently on SportsCentre, Off The Record with Michael Landsberg, and TSN The Reporters with Dave Hodge. TSN Radio and TEAM Radio Fans can set their radio dial to TSN Radio and TEAM Radio stations across the country for expert hockey analysis and commentary and live NHL game broadcasts. Live radio streaming of TSN Radio stations is available online at TSN.ca/Radio and on TSN Digital Platforms, including the TSN app for iPhone and iPad. TEAM 1040, TEAM 1200 and TEAM 1260 streaming is available on each stations home page and the Bell Media Radio mobile app. Coverage is as follows: - TSN Radio 1050 Toronto - 48 Toronto Maple Leafs games: 41 regular season, 7 pre-season- TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg - all Winnipeg Jets games- TSN Radio 690 Montreal - all Montreal Canadiens games- TEAM 1040 Vancouver - all Vancouver Canucks games- TEAM 1200 Ottawa - all Ottawa Senators games- TEAM 1260 Edmonton - news and analysis surrounding the Oilers all season TSN Digital TSN Digital platforms deliver comprehensive coverage of the 2013 NHL season, with up-to-the-minute news, scores and stats, along with highlights of every game, in-depth features, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and GMs from around the league. You can also access columns and blogs by TSNs hockey experts and Insiders and follow every game with the return of our TSN GameTracker. Fans on-the-go can also keep up with the NHL via the TSN app for iPhone and iPad. ' ' '