There are plenty of ways for us to deal with the NBA Lockout.

Sure, we could bemoan the possible loss of next season. We could yearn for Rubio highlights and Kevin Love double doubles.

We could try something different and watch baseball or hockey. (Gross.)

Or... we can embrace the lockout. Seriously. Think of the possibilities!

Here are five unexpected positives from the NBA Lockout if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached and we lose next season:

Aaaaaaaand the lockout begins. Per ESPN:

 

NBA players are locked out, possibly jeopardizing next season.

Union chief Billy Hunter said Thursday afternoon that owners had locked out the players after failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

"It's obvious the lockout will happen tonight," he said.

 

Obviously this is disappointing news. Let's hope they can settle this and avoid affecting next season!

Per Jerry Zgoda from the Star Tribune:

In a last bit of bookkeeping before Friday's expected NBA player lockout...

The Wolves today exercised the fourth-year contract option for Wayne Ellington and third-year options for Wes Johnson and Lazar Hayward for the 2012-13 season.

Wes will make $4.2 million that season, Ellington $2.1 million and Hayward $1.2 million.

Picking up Wes' option by Thursday's league deadlline was an obvious move?

But why Ellington and Hayward on a roster that's getting mighty crowded?

Well, remember: The options are for the 2012-13 season. They're already committed to all three players for this next season, whenever (or if) that might be.

And also remember that the roster today -- already at the 15 man limit when they sign Derrick Williams and Malcolm Lee -- is not what it's going to look like when a new labor agreement is reached and teams hustle to get ready for the season.

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I cannot state enough how horrible two of these moves are by Kahn. Paying Ellington and Major Lazer $3.3 million TWO years from now is unexplainable. Hayward should never play. Ever. So you want to sign him so that he can be traded in a deal later?!? Or what?  Because I don't get it. How about just don't sign him in the first place, and keep the raw cap space!

Ellington most likely has the worst overall stats across the board for anyone that played over 1,000 minutes last season:

PER: Wayne was ranked #252 out of 255 eligible players with 1,000+ minutes played.
eFG%: Wayne was ranked #214 out of 255 players.
Win Shares per 48 Minutes: Wayne was ranked #250 out of 255 players.

His only redeeming quality is that he shoots 3's at an ok rate (but nothing special, especially for $2+ million dollars), and brings nothing defensively. He is NOT a player that should be on the court for us, ever. Especially not with all the other young guys we've got that need legitimate minutes.  Nearly any stud D-Leaguer or minimum salaried FA SG signing would replace and/or surpass his "production." This was a total failure extension by Kahn, and there is no sugar-coating it.  I can't get over this.

Wes Johnson, yes... extend him. But there is NO sense in signing those other two guys pre-lockout!

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This is yet another example of Kahn failing to properly evaluate talent. There's simply no reason these extensions should have been given now, TWO years in advance. They could have been done later after the lockout/new CBA.  Or if Kahn really, really, really loved the smiles that these players possess, he could have let their contracts expire and then re-signed them later as free agents for minimum salaries.  They must try really hard in practice, or something.

Speaking of which, we don't even know what the new CBA/Salary Cap rules will be yet. And he goes and gives two players that should never play three and a half million dollars. If there is a hard cap, every single dollar will count. And every single dollar that we are below the cap will give us an advantage over the rest of the competition... namely when it comes to signing prime free agents.

These extensions for two(!) DNP-caliber players is just simply mind-boggling.

Like most of you, I was perplexed by Michael Beasley last year.

     

There were games, like that one against the Clippers, where he demonstrated the potential to become an all-star caliber talent, a true alpha dog player on a team that desperately needed leadership. Unfortunately, there were also games where he seemingly checked out altogether.

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From Draft Express’s database:

Kevin Love – 6′ 7.75″ no shoes, 255 lbs, 18 bench reps, 35″ max vert
Michael Beasley – 6′ 7″ no shoes, 235 lbs, 19 bench reps, 35″ max vert
Derrick Williams – 6′ 7.25″ no shoes, 250 lbs, 19 bench reps, 34.5″ max vert


And also:

Love – 6′ 11.25 ” wingspan, 8′ 10″ standing reach
Beas – 7′ 0.25″ wingspan, 8′ 11″ standing reach
DWill – 7′ 1.5″ wingspan, 9′ 0″ standing reach

So how exactly are all these guys going to get minutes for us? Derrick Williams definitely isn't a SF, and Kahn said in his press conference to introduce Williams that he is "going to be here for the long haul" and that he "didn't anticipate trading Derrick Williams for anyone" since he was "the top guy on our draft board."

And the numbers show that Beasley is better at PF than he is at SF. And obviously Love can't play SF. Love can play some Center, but not too much, because he's so undersized. Obviously neither Beasley or Williams can play center at all, so if it's anyone of these three, it's gotta be Love.  But I don't really like that solution too much either.

So what the hell are we going to do? We need a big trade (or series of trades), or we are looking at 22 wins and being the worst team in the Western Conference next year.

Please click "Read More" to read on about how we attempt to figure this entire mess out...

 

Enjoy:

 

Okay, folks, we're going to make this somewhat brief for now.  It is Friday afternoon, the sun is shining, and I'm sure you have a ton of draft coverage to read through so we won't take up too much of your time.

While the final transactions have yet to be announced, last night was a pretty good draft for the Wolves. While the team still has a long way to go if they ever want to crack 30 or even 20 wins, this was a great display of valuing assets and doing the best you can to maximize returns on pieces we quite frankly did not need. A few points and implications:

1. Derrick Williams.

Derrick, who will wear #7, was the complete logical pick. While his size and quickness are questionable, he has a great power game and a very solid outside shot. A safe pick who will struggle to find minutes in our rotation. If the Wolves fail to consolidate and go after the veteran player they so dearly need, the frontcourt situation could not turn out pretty. In a vacuum, this pick was great, but only if we follow it up with some consolidation and maneuvering. Otherwise it simply will not work out. There aren't enough minutes and too many guys in need of playing time.

2. Cash Considerations Were the Steal of the Draft

I can't stress this enough.

Look, owners can be greedy slimeballs. No one likes to see teams sell draft picks. No one likes to see talent go to the wayside in favor of insignificant cash allocations....but in the case of the Wolves I am FULLY in support of acquiring cash for one reason: so we can pay off Rambis.

Whether we agree with the underlying approach to the situation or not, one can speculate with a pretty high degree of certainty that Taylor and Co. were not excited about paying off the $4 million owed to Kurt Rambis. My best guess is Kahn, directed by ownership, held out on the firing until after the draft so he could acquire as much cash as needed in order to facilitate the Rambis buyout. Now that he (hopefully) has, he can has the green light to fire Kurt.

Now, whether you think of this as being ethical, sensible, normal, want to slam the hiring in hindsight...whatever....this is our reality. Our status quo. It is out of Kahn's or our control, and we need to accept the fact that Rambis was in danger of staying because of his contract. Past mistakes be damned, hiring a new coach is high on any Wolves fan's wishlist.  We were in heavy danger of bringing back a coach who amassed 32 wins total in two seasons with an offense and defensive identity so out of whack that Corey Brewer was trusted to drive to the basket and pull up for contested mid-range jumpshots, while he allowed wide open three pointers on the other end. It was complete, utter, insanity. And yet some wanted to keep Donatas Montiejunas (or draft Marshon "franchise savior" Brooks) instead? That's more insane than Rambis' player development model.

With these cash considerations acquired and Rambis (hopefully?) bought out soon, the cash could make a larger impact on the Wolves' win column than any player in the entire draft could have made, including Derrick Williams. And that is not a knock on Derrick Williams. If these cash considerations were the key to letting Rambis go, then give me them seven days a week. Getting him out of town will make such a positive impact on the team that it makes the idea of taking a flyer on some mediocre #20 pick everyone overrates (BUT GRANGER WAS PICKED AROUND THERE ONCEOMGOMGZOMG!!) who would play 4 minutes a game next year an hilarious afterthought. Would you have rather kept Montiejunas or fired Rambis? Be rational and focus on the on court product rather than bitterness of the Rambis system/hiring/whatever. Kahn was able to maintain the #2 prospect in the draft while getting rid of Flynn, and picking up Brad Miller's insured contract and anywhere between 3-4 additional draft picks, and they still ended up with Malcolm Lee and Ngombo (although not for long) in the end. And Rambis is all but gone....and yet, what is the problem, here?

3. Malcolm Lee and Tanguy Ngombo

What impresses me about this draft is that the Wolves didn't pull a Lazar Hayward and take Malcolm at #20. Instead they bumped back to the proper position and took him at #43 while picking up a cache' of goodies. The #20 pick netted the Wolves more than what Miami got for Michael Beasley. Malcolm is a solid prospect coming from a great program and many say he is a 2nd round steal. However, if history suggests anything, the Wolves won't carry more than 13 players on the roster. We have 14 guaranteed contracts as of today. The reality is, unless consolidation occurs, it might be tough for Malcolm to make the team. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't. So, let's not get our hopes up (but Manu, Monta and Arenas were 2nd rounders once!!!!!!!!!).

Not much is known about Ngombo. It seems unlikely he will ever even come close to playing in the NBA. It wouldn't shock anyone I'm sure if he were never heard from again. UPDATE: In fact, a report surfaced today that he has been busted for lying about his age and he is actually tuning 27 in a couple of weeks!  Could this mean we lose his rights? More on this as it comes....

If anyone can properly name and spell all of our Eurocanish stashes overseas I will perhaps provide a treat.

4. What it all means

The Wolves did a great job of amassing talent and maximizing the value of their assets. It will be interesting to see the final parameters of the trades when they are all finalized. Sometimes added assets and surprises come out of the woodworks that were previously unreported.

At this point, though, the Wolves are headed right back toward another awful season with no 1st round pick next year to ease the losses. While the draft was handled nicely in a vacuum, in a way we needed to trade this pick in the absolute worst way to acquire a high impact player with more that 17 NBA starts (for those Gortat fans out there). And the reality is, Kahn tried vehemently to deal this pick and he failed to do it. It was priority numero uno. And he couldn't pull it off. So while Kahn handled the draft well, is the guy capable of making a trade for an established player, or will we forever be characterized by our reclamation ability while pushing back our windows of opportunity? At some point consolidation must occur, the logjam must be eased for many reasons: 1. Wins (team as it stands is still a bottom feeder). 2. Rotation and development 3. Contracts and imminent extensions.  We simply won't have enough money to retain all of our young players, plain and simple, and Kahn is running out of time. And people who will even talk to him (but that's another story).

Thoughts on the draft? Check out the forums or leave a comment. 5 days 'til lockout :(

Also, fun fact in closing: Kyrie Irving has only 5 hours of NCAA college basketball experience and was picked first overall.

 

That is all. Highly repetetive (to the rest of the world) draft recap to follow. Too much going on and ducks need to be aligned and heads screwed back on.

 

Initial thought? Not a bad draft for the Wolves. And of course a vet trade did not happen. Of course. Who's shocked? Probably many.



 

 

Derrick Williams was the pick. I like it and am glad we didn't get cute if the vet trade wasn't up to standards.

 

Solid idea to trade back for Malcolm Lee, an excellent value selection, rather than take him at #20. Yeah...let's sleep on this.

 

Oh, and the Brad Miller era has begun, (in 2012 when he recovers from surgery). Ladies and gentlemen, your veteran addition:

Well, the day is upon us. Two months after the Wolves' horrid season ends, we have come to draft day. The Wolves hold the #2 and #20 picks, no second rounders, and have been the subject of a barrage of rumors. 

Andre Iguodala, Pau Gasol, Monta Ellis, Andrew Bogut, Josh Smith, Marcin Gortat, Steve Nash, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom have all been mentioned as potential trade targets. The #2 pick holds the most value for us in tradeable options.

What will happen? Can Kahn pull some magic? Can he make his first meaningful trade, for an established player, of his career? Do teams even work with us anymore? Too many questions. We will find out tonight.

It may be wise to lower expectations a bit. Every Kahn Window of Opportunity has produced a zombie-army of armchair GM speculation with none other than Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry's mumu and sports bra to show for it. It seems very real that all of the allure of a good move will come crashing down when no deal materializes. Not trying to be negative, just temper expectations a bit so one can enjoy their evening.

My prediction: Wolves draft and keep Williams, and trade the #20 pick for either a 2nd rounder and cash to pay the Rambis buyout, or 2 2nd rounders. I don't think Kahn has it in him to acquire the player we all covet. 

But that's just me. Only a few hours way.....thoughts? Feel free to join the forum conversations on draft night or head down to Target Center at 5:30 for the draft party. A few of us staffers and friends will be there. Look for the group of eight or so standing on the edge of the Hennepin Avenue bridge after Kahn trades the #2 pick for Matt Bonner and come say hi.

Decision will be announced after the draft. Sheesh, what a week. 

Article Link

Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has decided to fire coach Kurt Rambis, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Kahn isn’t expected to announce the decision until after Thursday’s NBA draft, but he’s already begun collecting information on prospective replacements for Rambis, sources said.

Kahn met with Rambis last week and believes he has reached an impasse with the coach. The relationship between Kahn and Rambis deteriorated over the course of the past season, to the point where there’s been little communication between them.

Rambis has two years left on his original four-year contract. With the Timberwolves in the midst of a major rebuilding project, he went 32-132 as their coach, including a league-worst 17-65 this season.

 

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