From Chad Ford/ESPN:
The Heat are also talking to the Timberwolves, Sonics and Clippers. The problem is the Wolves don’t have much to offer.
Wolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale watched Gordon, Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, Indiana guard Eric Gordon and Oklahoma forward Longar Longar work out at Target Center, assured he knew one thing about Thursday night.
"We’re going to get a really good player, no question," he said. "There
are a lot of good players in this draft. It’s a really deep draft.
That’s why I’m excited about 31 and 34 [their two second-round picks].
We can package those and move up, but the more and more I look at it,
we might stay there. There are some really good, interesting players
who might drop. It’s going to be a fun Thursday night."
are a lot of good players in this draft. It’s a really deep draft.
That’s why I’m excited about 31 and 34 [their two second-round picks].
We can package those and move up, but the more and more I look at it,
we might stay there. There are some really good, interesting players
who might drop. It’s going to be a fun Thursday night."
Asked what he and the basketball staff would be
doing between now and Thursday night, McHale said: "Phones. We’ll
probably spend some time looking at some guys (whose) names have come
up in trades. … Just a lot of film work between now and then."
doing between now and Thursday night, McHale said: "Phones. We’ll
probably spend some time looking at some guys (whose) names have come
up in trades. … Just a lot of film work between now and then."
McHale said the Wolves probably will do phone
interviews with a couple players they weren’t able to work out,
including Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who is expected to go
to Miami with the second pick.
interviews with a couple players they weren’t able to work out,
including Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who is expected to go
to Miami with the second pick.
-From incredibly patient Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor: "I see so much up and down in our league that I think with a little good fortune you could get into the playoff finals pretty rapidly, and I’m hopeful we’ll be one of those teams."
-The Timberwolves will choose center Brook Lopez from Stanford with their first-round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, ESPN’s The Magazine projects.
-There is little doubt that the Timberwolves will choose guard O.J. Mayo from Southern California with their first pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.
One such player is USC guard O.J. Mayo, who could go as high as third in Thursday’s draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves own the pick and the club is open to trading it.
Although Wolves Vice President Kevin McHale said
last week the team is considering four players for that third pick,
Southern California guard O.J. Mayo is the third-best player in the
draft. Take him. There’s no reason to pass on Mayo … unless the
Wolves are scared off by his reputation for having character and
attitude issues. If the Wolves don’t take Mayo, they won’t be picking
someone who has better talent. They’ll be picking someone who’s better
behaved.
last week the team is considering four players for that third pick,
Southern California guard O.J. Mayo is the third-best player in the
draft. Take him. There’s no reason to pass on Mayo … unless the
Wolves are scared off by his reputation for having character and
attitude issues. If the Wolves don’t take Mayo, they won’t be picking
someone who has better talent. They’ll be picking someone who’s better
behaved.
But assuming Chicago and Miami select Memphis guard Derrick Rose and
Kansas State forward Michael Beasley (as everyone expects they will),
the only choice the Timberwolves can afford to make at this point in
the franchise’s history is USC guard O.J. Mayo.
Kansas State forward Michael Beasley (as everyone expects they will),
the only choice the Timberwolves can afford to make at this point in
the franchise’s history is USC guard O.J. Mayo.
The reason is simple. Mayo has a box office appeal that Lopez and Love
lack. With interest in the Timberwolves at an all-time low, the team
has to bring in a player that will sell tickets.
lack. With interest in the Timberwolves at an all-time low, the team
has to bring in a player that will sell tickets.
The changes in time produced the intended result — higher scoring
games — but also quashed a physical style of player the 6-10 McHale
once loved to play.
"I think the league is ever evolving," said McHale, the No. 3 overall
pick in the 1980 draft by Boston. "[The Celtics’] Paul Pierce got to
the line 20 times [in an NBA Finals game] and he didn’t post up once.
Before the only way you got to the line was throw it in the post and
rough-house people. Now you can’t touch anybody on the perimeter."
Wolves team physician Sheldon Burns is on the staff of the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.
Whatever happens, Longar gains comfort in knowing that he’ll be playing
professional basketball somewhere next year — either in the NBA, a
United States developmental league, or in Europe. No one is debating
that.
professional basketball somewhere next year — either in the NBA, a
United States developmental league, or in Europe. No one is debating
that.
"Longar definitely has a future in professional basketball," Wolves
assistant general manager Rob Babcock said by phone Monday, hours after
working out the 25-year-old. "He is a big guy with potential to grow.
We’ve all been very impressed with his development."
assistant general manager Rob Babcock said by phone Monday, hours after
working out the 25-year-old. "He is a big guy with potential to grow.
We’ve all been very impressed with his development."
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