The Wolves never have improved their draft position in 13 trips to the lottery. On Tuesday, Wolves rookie Kevin Love watched from a stage in a New Jersey television studio as the procedure went pick by pick just as it should have — until the Wolves’ logo appeared when the envelope containing the draft’s sixth pick was opened.
That meant Memphis — the team the Wolves beat in a tiebreaking draw at season’s end for the fifth draft slot — jumped into the top three.
Statistically speaking, the Wolves landed right where the odds said they would. Even though they won a coin flip with Memphis to slot them in the fifth spot, the Timberwolves had a 38.5 percent chance of falling a place to No. 6. At No. 5, they had about 26.3 percent chance.
For those long-suffering Wolves fans out there, it could have been worse. The Sacramento Kings endured a wretched season and had the best shot at landing the top pick in the NBA draft. Instead, they plummeted all the way to fourth.
Who is it who got the honor of representing the Timberwolves here tonight? Who from the Suns will be making certain that nothing untoward happens with the drawing of the ping pong balls? Who will pump his fist in the air on behalf of the Los Angeles Clippers?
The answer, on all three counts, was: Nobody.
Nobody!
It seems absurd, but: Is this a sign of the economy? Are teams saving on travel?
The way the system works is that every team is invited to send two official representatives. One witnesses the proceedings and is locked in this room so as to not spill the beans and ruin the broadcast. The other, who has no idea what happened, is on the stage.
Can you imagine if 14 teams took the same approach as those three? It would make the whole drawing almost meaningless.
Barring a trade up, that means point guard Ricky Rubio of Spain and shot-blocking Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet figure to be gone before Minnesota makes its first pick in the June 25 draft.
Both are considered prime players in need positions for the Wolves, who also own the 18th and 28th selections of the first round and could put together a package to move up or trade for veteran help…
In addition to their three first-round choices, the Wolves have two picks in the second round (45 and 47).
However, the Wolves are expected to try to trade one of their three first-round draft picks to move up higher than No. 6.
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