It’s not very often that the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the news. And, well…it’s not normal for the Twolves to get any sort of publicity around the basketball community. The only time that Minnesota got onto ESPN was when Kevin Love was triumphing through the record books by becoming a double-double machine, and then there are the occasional meetings where players like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant go off for 30-plus points.
But, now, as summer is just about to be upon us, Minnesota is once again the center of attention in the basketball universe. First, news came down that Ricky Rubio would be coming to Minneapolis to finally become a member of the wolfpack of Timberwolves. After two seasons of staying in Spain, the future of what Rubio will be in the NBA is entirely hazy. He came off the bench this past season with his Spanish team, but his game transitions well into the league.
Still, it’s nothing but optimism in the Twin Cities as the NBA draft looms toward us. Even with uncertainty of the head coach, Kurt Rambis, and if he will be the coach this next season, Minnesota fans are staying positive.
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Now, the future of the number two pick is just about as hazy as the future of Rubio. With the Cleveland Cavaliers in love with Derrick Williams, the Cavs could very well take him with the first selection in next week’s draft. If that does become the pick, then it’s wide open for the Minnesota slot. There’s no way that the Timberwolves draft the best player in the draft, Kyrie Irving. Irving is a point guard, and the Rubio project will be in effect next season. Cleveland could very well take Irving and find a forward or a scorer three picks later at four. Either way, it’s possible for Minnesota to trade its pick.
There are two possible ways Minnesota works for a trade. Option one is trading down with a team to acquire a lesser pick along with a decent player. Teams possible for that include Houston, Sacramento, and Washington. Each of those teams could be a perfect destination for either player. Both Houston and Sacramento need a point guard. Houston could offer Luis Scola, the fourteen pick, and another player. Sacramento could give the seventh pick along with one of their many young players. In Washington, the Wizards really like Williams. To get him, it would take the sixth pick and Javale McGee. In that scenario, both teams come out extremely happy. The Wizards would have a dynamic duo in Williams and John Wall. For Minnesota, it means a legit center in McGee to match the frontcourt intensity of Love.
There is the second option as well. That option is trading the number two pick in a bigger deal, allowing a bigger named player to don a Twolves uniform. Josh Smith from Atlanta and Monta Ellis from Golden State. Both of these players fit a need in Minnesota. Smith would be the other big and the top scorer for the Timberwolves, while Ellis provides a huge scoring threat.
Imagine a starting lineup for Minnesota with Rubio, Wesley Johnson, Michael Beasley, Love, and Smith. It’s a lineup that can be dangerous if the team gels together.
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It’s not often that Minnesota is news worthy in basketball. Yet, in the coming weeks, they are the team that holds the entire deck of cards. The magician at work for Minnesota will be David Kahn, the general manager of the team. He has been a laughing stock so far in his stay as GM. He drafted two point guards in consecutive picks in the draft. He signed Darko Milicic to a multi-year deal. What people don’t see is that he also pulled a rabbit out of the head by getting Beasley, a second overall pick from a few years ago, for only a second round pick.
Time will tell if they pull out an ace of spades or a six of hearts.