From Chad Ford/ESPN:
Look for a number of this year’s lottery picks to be for sale the next few months. Numerous sources have said that the Heat, Timberwolves, Sonics, Knicks, Clippers, Bucks, Bobcats, Nets and Blazers are all open to trading their picks if the right deal came along.
Teams like the Wolves, Sonics, Bucks, Bobcats and Blazers are already loaded with young players. What they need are veterans who can add leadership and depth.
McHale called Beasley the draft’s most NBA-ready talent, a player whose size and shooting, scoring and rebounding gifts most readily "translate" into the pro game. He seemed suspect in a post-lottery interview of Rose’s shooting abilities.
"If you’re going to play next to Al Jefferson, you better be able to do this," McHale said, making a shooting motion with his right arm.
McHale said he will approach this draft pick weighing both the team’s needs and the best talent available on the board. The best-player-available method seems to make the most sense for the Wolves, though, because this team won just 22 games last season. It’s clear the Wolves need more talent at almost every position, the lone exception being whatever spot on the court Al Jefferson happens to be playing on any given night.
Third is not a good position for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The idea that 2008 is a "two-player draft" is a little overblown, but taking either Rose or Beasley would’ve pleased the fan base. Now? There is no consensus No. 3 and considerable opportunity to pick a bust, which the T-wolves have been known to do.
From the AP:
“Unfortunately around here, a lot of times the lottery hasn’t gone in their way per se,” McHale said. “It’s a pingpong ball thing and I was happy just to stay where we were at. I’m perfectly content with where we’re at and where we’ll be picking.”
"It’s supposedly a two-man draft," McHale said. "I love being third."
I would have preferred to see Beasley playing in Target Center, but history says the Wolves can land a star at No. 3. Their luck is what they make of it.
Henry/TrueHoop with observations from the lottery:
Taking a Fred Hoiberg Quote Out of Context
He’s the assistant GM of the Timberwolves. Front office people are, publicly, generally always upbeat, saying things about bright futures. At one point, he talked at some length about the team’s young players and said he was "not that worried" about the team’s future. I think he meant it as a confidence booster, but it looks a little tepid on paper, huh?
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