After an entire commercial break of truly believing that Wolves fans wouldn’t be hearing names like "Mayo," "Lopez," "Bayless," and "Love" for the next month, the lottery party at NBA City turned into Heartbreak City when it was announced that the Wolves would pick as slotted in the upcoming draft. That the team didn’t fall any spots from its position offers little consolation right now, especially given the fact that the news came just before the finals matchup starring Garnett and Flip Saunders’ Pistons.
"I’m very happy with (the No. 3 pick)," said Wolves Vice President of
Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. "I personally feel that it’s a very
good draft. I love being third, because we had eight players that we
really, really liked. It gives you a lot of flexibility in that third
spot."
Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. "I personally feel that it’s a very
good draft. I love being third, because we had eight players that we
really, really liked. It gives you a lot of flexibility in that third
spot."
Of the 10 NBA teams with the best chance to get the top pick, the
Wolves were the only one (other than Chicago, who defied all odds to
grab the top slot) not to drop at least one spot in the lottery.
Seattle fell two spots, while Miami, Memphis, New York, L.A. Clippers,
Milwaukee and Charlotte all dropped a position.
From the AP:
Assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg represented the team at the
proceedings in Secaucus, N.J., bringing with him a stuffed bear in
Timberwolves garb given to him by the 12-year-old Gamber.
proceedings in Secaucus, N.J., bringing with him a stuffed bear in
Timberwolves garb given to him by the 12-year-old Gamber.
The Brooklyn Park native is a huge Timberwolves fan and has brought the
bear with him to the operating room for more than 100 surgeries in his
short life, including a liver transplant. Hoiberg learned of his story
through an usher at Target Center and befriended the boy…
bear with him to the operating room for more than 100 surgeries in his
short life, including a liver transplant. Hoiberg learned of his story
through an usher at Target Center and befriended the boy…
"I would have liked it to be a little bit higher, but I’m glad we
didn’t fall,” said Gamber, who listened to the broadcast on the radio
at a family picnic.
From the AP:
For the second time in franchise history, the Wolves drew the third
overall pick for next month’s draft. After finishing the regular season
with the third-worst record in the league, the Wolves had a 13.8
percent chance to win the lottery for the first pick, but were unable
to move up in the draft order.
overall pick for next month’s draft. After finishing the regular season
with the third-worst record in the league, the Wolves had a 13.8
percent chance to win the lottery for the first pick, but were unable
to move up in the draft order.
From the Timberwolves site:
This year will mark the second time in team history the Wolves will
enter the draft with the third overall pick, having previously selected
Christian Laettner with the third pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. Minnesota
has never previously selected higher than third, and the Timberwolves
have not had a top-five draft pick since selecting Kevin Garnett and
Ray Allen with the fifth picks in the 1995 and 1996 NBA Drafts.
enter the draft with the third overall pick, having previously selected
Christian Laettner with the third pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. Minnesota
has never previously selected higher than third, and the Timberwolves
have not had a top-five draft pick since selecting Kevin Garnett and
Ray Allen with the fifth picks in the 1995 and 1996 NBA Drafts.
From the Pioneer Press:
"While much of the attention surrounding this
lottery has been on the top two picks, there is still an excellent pool
of talent to choose from in this draft and we’re confident that we’ll
be adding a player who can provide a nice boost to our team," Wolves
vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said in a
statement. "Our goal remains to put the Wolves back among the NBA’s
elite teams, and the third pick in this year’s draft will be a valuable
asset as we continue down that road."
lottery has been on the top two picks, there is still an excellent pool
of talent to choose from in this draft and we’re confident that we’ll
be adding a player who can provide a nice boost to our team," Wolves
vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said in a
statement. "Our goal remains to put the Wolves back among the NBA’s
elite teams, and the third pick in this year’s draft will be a valuable
asset as we continue down that road."
Denied the chance to select either Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose
or Kansas State freshman forward Michael Beasley — who are seen as the
top two players available — the Wolves now will choose from a pool of
players expected to include Stanford sophomore center Brook Lopez, USC
freshman guard O.J. Mayo, Arizona freshman guard Jerryd Bayless, UCLA
freshman forward Kevin Love, LSU freshman forward Anthony Randolph or
European prospect Danilo Gallinari.
or Kansas State freshman forward Michael Beasley — who are seen as the
top two players available — the Wolves now will choose from a pool of
players expected to include Stanford sophomore center Brook Lopez, USC
freshman guard O.J. Mayo, Arizona freshman guard Jerryd Bayless, UCLA
freshman forward Kevin Love, LSU freshman forward Anthony Randolph or
European prospect Danilo Gallinari.
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