Wolves Updates 6/24 Part 5

Written by SG

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 22:33

Minnesota supposedly may not be done making moves, and could be looking to package some assets and move up even higher in the first round. Right now they seem to be dangling the #18 pick and Nikola Pekovic, possibly to Detroit sitting at 15. Gerald Henderson could very well be their target, as he’s likely gone one pick later by Chicago...

-Minnesota is offering Oklahoma City the #5 and #18 picks for the #3, but don’t seem likely to get a deal done with those parameters.

rom Jonathan Abrams/New York Times:
As Rubio discussed his future, teams did the same. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who acquired the fifth pick in the draft from the Washington Wizards in a trade Tuesday night, are working to acquire the second overall selection from the Memphis Grizzlies to snatch Rubio, according to an Eastern Conference executive who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss other teams’ dealings. The potential deal would involve Minnesota giving up its two first-round selections — No. 6 and No. 18.

From Alan Hahn/Newsday:

* - Timberwolves president David Kahn late this afternoon vehemently denied there was a deal in place with the Knicks for the 28th overall pick, as had been the hot rumor earlier in the day (when I was on the damn train and could only tweet that, after a little help from some insider friends, it was not, in fact, a done deal, amid swirling reports that it was). There was talk that the Knicks tried to get Memphis' pick at No. 27 but the Grizzlies declined.

Now it sounds like the Knicks are aiming for Minnesota's other pick at No. 18. Could be a cash deal or maybe it costs the Renaldo Balkman trade exception, which expires in July. Regardless, these are believed to be a few of many options Donnie Walsh and his staff are trying to set up going into draft night.

From Alan Hahn's twitter account:

I hear Curry is behind about four guards on Minnesota's board. It's Golden State that lies in the weeds.

From Charlie Walters/Pioneer Press:

It's clear that new Timberwolves President David Kahn, who spent 10 days working a trade with Washington that gained him the No. 5 pick in tonight's NBA draft, now wants to deal with Memphis for the Grizzlies' No. 2 pick.

That way, the Wolves could take 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet of Connecticut or flashy point guard Ricky Rubio of Spain.

Kahn, who also has the Nos. 6, 18 and 28 overall picks, wants both players. It's unclear what Memphis would require to relinquish its No. 2.

But it wouldn't be surprising if the Wolves offer the Grizzlies forward Kevin Love and the No. 5 pick they received from the Wizards or their own No. 6 — but not both — and then choose a guard, either Tyreke Evans of Memphis or Stephen Curry of Davidson.

That would make Kahn's first draft in Minnesota a success.

From Andrew Thell/Empty The Bench: Minnesota Decides to Shuffle Up and Deal

From Don Seeholzer/Pioneer Press:

The Timberwolves aren't expected to take that much time to find Kevin McHale's successor, but the search won't officially begin until after tonight's draft.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn insists that's not a problem, but ESPN draft analyst Fran Fraschilla said it could be.

"I think what it does is it limits the kind of coach you're going to get," Fraschilla said. "I think when you draft before you name your new coach, then you're going to have to find a guy that's going to fit the type of players you have. Now, some coaches are very flexible. Other coaches are very rigid in their styles. So it probably limits you a little bit as to who is going to coach your team based on the talent you're procuring."

From Tim Povtak/Fanhouse:

Despite an earlier report that television analyst Mark Jackson was his top choice, Kahn should be smart enough to know he can do better than that.

Why settle for someone with no coaching experience when there are seasoned guys -- including three who have coached in the NBA Finals -- who will give Kahn a much better chance of succeeding.