4 Ideal Draft Night Scenarios for the Timberwolves

By Joey Cavalier

1) Draft Derrick Williams. Subsequently, trade Michael Beasley and Jonny Flynn for center, Marcin Gortat.

Bottom Line: Derek Williams is going to be a star. He is very polished offensively, he's shown improvement every year in his game, and he's a violent, aggressive playmaker. The most ideal situation for the Wolves would be to draft D-Will at No. 2, and then subsequently trade Beasley and Flynn to the youth-starved Phoenix Suns for the underrated center, Marcin Gortat (this would mean Williams is our starting small forward). Gortat would bring stability, defense, low-post scoring and rebounding to a team that is in need of a solid starting center.

2) Draft Derrick Williams, and keep the rest of the roster intact.
As you can see, I like Derrick Williams a lot. Even if the Wolves do not move Beasley, I still want them to draft D-Will and commit to him. The mix-and-match frontcourt of Love/Williams/Beasley could easily grow into one of the most offensively dangerous front courts in the NBA. If this were to happen, Beasley would need to grow in his ability to play for long stretches at power forward, and Love would need to focus on his defensive game, as he would find himself playing center for extended periods. The occasional lineup of Rubio/Johnson/Williams/Beasley/Love may be weak defensively, but have fun trying to stop them from putting up an absurd amount of points.

3) Package the No. 2 pick, Wayne Ellington and Johnny Flynn for DeMar DeRozan and the No. 5 pick. Use the fifth pick on forward Jan Vesely.
If the Wolves do happen to trade the No. 2 pick, they need to get a guy like DeMar DeRozan and a high lottery pick for it. DeRozan would instantly step in and start at shooting guard, while Wes Johnson would become a very versatile sixth man who could play either shooting guard or small forward. With the fifth pick, the Wolves then select Jan Vesely, the electrifying 21-year-old small forward out of the Czech Republic. This kid is 6’11, he's a terrific finisher around the hoop, and he's a very efficient post player as well. Vesely is most noted for his ability to elevate in traffic, where he scores and rebounds aggressively. Jan Vesely would bring a powerful, physical style of play to the Timberwolves offense.

4) Draft Enes Kanter, and keep the rest of the roster intact.
If for some reason the Wolves do not select Derrick Williams, they must take the Turkish center, Enes Kanter. Though he is pegged as inexperienced (which he certainly is), the kid is an absolute freak of nature. He's very driven, and his ability to bang in the low post is something the Wolves need badly. Kanter also possesses a decent mid-range jump shot, which would allow him to stretch opposing defenses. His attacking style of play would be a great addition to a squad that's as tough as Charmin Ultra Soft in the paint. Oh, and if someone were kind enough to take Darko off our hands after the draft, that would be great!

Random Thoughts From a Cluttered Mind

:: We've all seen the spike in his traditional statistics, but here's something for you sabermetric seamheads. Delmon Young's .895 OPS (On-Base% + Slugging%) is now 218 points higher than it was through 93 games last year (.677). He's putting together a memorable season, even if he still looks like a lost Boy Scout chasing butterflies in left field. ::

:: If anyone is actually buying the talk that Brett Favre is still considering retirement, shoot me an email. I've got some oceanfront property in Eagan I'll give you a great deal on. ::

:: Is J.J. Hardy Rob McElhenney's celebrity doppleganger, or is Rob McElhenney J.J. Hardy's celebrity doppleganger? Would you rather work at Target Field, or Paddy's Pub? Is Philadelphia really any sunnier than Minneapolis? These are just some of the things I ponder in the minutes between J.J. Hardy swinging and J.J. Hardy reaching first base. ::

:: Did anyone else squirm when Adrian Peterson made a cameo last week on Entourage, in the exact same episode that Ari Gold made a pitch to get an NFL team in Los Angeles? ::

:: It's been three whole paragraphs since I talked about Delmon Young. On a night where Matt Garza throws a no-hitter, all Delmon does is rack up another four hits, move into 6th in AL batting average, and 4th in AL RBI's. Call me crazy, but I'm not backing off my opinion that I still would not reverse that trade today. ::

:: The Timberwolves just traded for Delonte West. I guess that's the closest they were going to get to LeBron James. ::

:: David Kahn continues to provide refreshing comic relief for the train wreck at 600 1st Avenue. In a recent interview with NBA TV's Chris Webber, the Timberwolves VP of Basketball Operations came with his best stuff yet. When Webber asked Kahn about Darko Milicic, Kahn dropped back-to-back-to-back punchlines. Without ever coming up for air, he compared the colossal bust to "manna from heaven," compared his passing skills to Vlade Divac's, and compared his early career to Webber's. The former 5-time All Star and NBA Rookie of the Year was able to laugh off the first two, but he clearly did not appreciate being the butt of the third joke. In a subsequent interview on KSTP radio, Kahn responded to Webber's justified irritation by calling him a "schmuck." For an encore, the pretentious Kahn began the next sentence with "Methinks." As a child, I often wondered what it would be like if Mr. Rogers were to slick back his hair and ingest massive amounts of peyote. Methinks I've found my answer. ::

:: Playing in a lot of fantasy football leagues is one thing. But right now, I'm on the hook to be the commissioner of three. I need to reevaluate that decision. It's all fun and games until Robert Meachem puts you in the witness protection program (controversial scoring incident below). ::

A First Look at Wesley Johnson

The Timberwolves' long-term rebuilding plan is not as long-term as it might have been. By selecting NBA-ready Syracuse swingman Wesley Johnson with the fourth pick in tonight's draft, the Wolves will get instant bang for their buck. The Big East Player of the Year and First Team All-American will undoubtedly be a favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, as his game is more polished than most of the raw lottery talent. He should have an opportunity to immediately contribute for the Wolves at Small Forward, where the ordinary Ryan Gomes started 64 games last season. While some say that Johnson's age (he'll be 23) limits his upside, others merely consider him a late bloomer. Unusually late.

Where blue-chippers like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins have been destined for stardom since Middle School, Johnson came out of high school in Corsicana, Texas without much fanfare. After stops at two prep schools to improve test scores, followed by two up-and-down seasons at Iowa State, Johnson made the life-changing decision to transfer to Syracuse University. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Johnson was forced to sit out a season, missing a chance to play with Wolves Point Guard Jonny Flynn. In his year off, Johnson continued modeling his game after childhood favorites Scottie Pippen and Penny Hardaway. Said Johnson, "Man, that journey from high school to finally getting to Syracuse, I learned a lot throughout the years from bouncing around. I think it really matured me a lot. I had to be patient and work hard to get where I'm at so I think that helped my work ethic and made me hungrier than anyone." That hunger was on full display last year.

Previously an unknown, Johnson's stock skyrocketed in his only season with the Orangemen. He emerged as an explosive athlete with a silky smooth jumper, scoring from everywhere on the court. At over 6'7", with a 7'1" wingspan, his length allowed him to rack up steals, blocks, and rebounds in the Syracuse 2-3 zone. These skills generally translate well to the NBA, and his intensity and awareness should make for a smooth transition on the defensive end. "I grew up playing [man-to-man]. It all comes down to want-to," said Johnson. But it was his offensive versatility that had scouts on the edge of their seats. They noted his deep NBA range, quick release, fluid body control, and explosive finishes in transition. Johnson scored within the flow of the game. He made teammates better, and rarely took bad shots. In short, he was lethally efficient. Comparisons started to flow. Shawn Marion. Rudy Gay. Rashard Lewis. In pre-draft workouts, Johnson continued to gain momentum, as he stood out against unrefined teenagers. In a period of seven months, Wesley Johnson had catapulted from anonymity to early lottery.

Like any draft pick, Johnson comes with question marks. He's just 205 lbs., and the dreaded "S" word has been attached to his scouting reports. Whether he plays soft or not, he's going to need to add bulk to survive in the NBA. Scouts wonder if he relies too heavily on his jumper; he has the ability to take it to the hole, but would prefer to avoid contact. Because of this, there are questions about whether he can create his own shot. The good news for Wolves fans is that Johnson's flaws are not fundamental, and seem correctable with an NBA training staff.

So how does Johnson fit in with the Wolves? The team wants to run the ball, and Johnson fills the transition lanes beautifully. He adds sorely needed outside shooting to open up the middle. In the triangle offense, he can play within the flow without having to go one-on-one. And he projects as a good perimeter defender, which should help the Wolves' 29th ranked Points Against average (107.8). On paper, Wesley Johnson appears to be a wonderful fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves. It won't take long to find out.

Green with Envy

With the Boston Celtics breezing through the playoffs, I've noticed a disturbing trend emerging in the local hoops community. It's suddenly become very fashionable to hate the previously beloved Kevin Garnett. In 1995, The Kid came to Minneapolis and changed the NBA, as the first prep star to skip college in 20 years. Kobe, LeBron, and Dwight Howard would all follow this blueprint. The Kid became The Franchise in 1998 when he changed the NBA again, with the signing of a then-unprecedented $126M deal. But more importantly for local hoops fans, KG made professional basketball matter in Minnesota for twelve years. Everything before him and after him has been unbelievably irrelevant.

Just three years removed from his departure, I now hear local fans whining about his dirty mouth and his aggressive, "chippy" play. Ironically, when KG was in Minnesota we referred to this as "fiery competitiveness," and we adored him for it. I hear local fans whining that he's "cocky," yet three years ago we called this "passion." Well, guess what? You can't have it both ways, Minnesota. Either you're lying to yourself now, or you were lying to yourself then. While it's true that KG's contract made it difficult to for the Wolves to add other pieces, they do it in other cities all the time. Like Boston, for one. KG has never stolen a paycheck; his level of effort and intensity is incredibly rare in today's game. An incompetent, scandalous front office is what made it impossible for us to compete. I thought that was obvious. How quickly we forget, and let our envy and jealousy get the best of us.

Kevin Garnett is the exact same player now that he was as a Timberwolf. The only difference is he's wearing green and he's winning at a higher level. And that's OK, we don't have to take it personally, Minnesota. It's OK to be happy for him, realizing he wasted his best twelve years giving everything he had to make this franchise a winner. For my money, watching KG completely lose control of his emotions after finally winning the elusive NBA Title will go down as one of my favorite moments in sports. And here's hoping he gets another ring. After twelve years of purgatory, he's earned this.

King of the Ping (Pong)?

A recent on-air pact between KFAN's Paul Allen, and the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations, David Kahn, has the voice of the Vikings packing his bags for next week's NBA Draft Lottery in Secaucus, New Jersey. Allen, a horse racing aficionado, reasoned that if he were to snap his own decade-long Kentucky Derby losing streak, then his "three chins and a unibrow" would be a perfect good luck charm for the notoriously unlucky Wolves franchise. Kahn half-heartedly agreed, and when the unplucked Allen's pick (Super Saver) won the Derby the next day, his ticket was punched. "P.A." hopes to pull off yet another Kentucky miracle, by winning the rights to Kentucky Wildcat phenom, John Wall. Slotted with the second most ping pong balls and a 19.9% chance, it would be the first time in its 21-year history that the Wolves not only won the lottery, but improved their draft position. Will P.A. pull off the Daily Double? Check back Tuesday, May 18. In the meantime, try your own luck at ESPN's Lottery Mock Draft.