The 2011 NBA Draft is merely over 24 hours away and the Timberwolves don’t know who they’ll be taking with the #2 pick…Derrick Williams?  Enes Kanter?  Kyrie Irving?

Those three names are the only real options for the TWolves at the #2 pick.  

KYRIE IRVING: Irving is someone who many analysts are considering will be an above-average point guard in this League which is why many are certain he’ll be a lock for the #1 pick—because he’s a guarantee.  The Cleveland Cavaliers stated last week that they’ve locked in Irving as their top pick—HOWEVER, at the same time, Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert was having an interview with Arizona’s Derrick Williams.  The worst thing that could happen for the Wolves is that the Irving falls to the Wolves at #2, just days after they welcome Ricky Rubio to the Twin Cities.  David Kahn has made it clear just yesterday, that “Ricky Rubio, will not be traded—you can sleep on it, he’ll be here for years to come.”  Ricky Rubio is Kahn’s guy, so if Irving falls to #2, expect him to be moved.

DERRICK WILLIAMS: Williams is the likeliest #2 pick.  Considering the Wolves don’t trade the pick or the player they draft with it, Williams is a player that they could really use.  Unfortunately he plays the same position(s) as Michael Beasley & Kevin Love.  Williams could easily be an all-star in the League one day, but it’s unclear if he’ll become an all-star while wearing a TWolves jersey.  The Cavs may decide to draft Williams with the #1 pick, but it’s unlikely, even though the wing is a position that the Cavs need to fill as they already have Baron Davis & Ramon Sessions at the point.  If the Cavs & TWolves both pass on Williams, the Jazz will snatch him up at #3.

ENES KANTER: Kanter is probably the best center in the draft (Jonas Valanciunas is a close second—however Jonas won’t be playing in the NBA next season).  The Wolves reportedly have a very strong interest in the Turkish big man, but to most analysts, Kanter could either be one of the best players in the draft OR the biggest BUST in the draft—no one knows!  Kanter had to sit out all of last season after being deemed ineligible by the NCAA.  If the Wolves take a chance on him, he would definitely be the starting center from day one, replacing Darko Milicic in the starting lineup. However, many believe that the Wolves interest in Kanter is to spark a trade with the Wizards (which is where Kanter wants to play and where the Wizards want him) in order to acquire the young athletic center JaVale McGee—filling the requisition of young athletic players to run the floor with Ricky Rubio.

Those are the only three players that make sense for the Wolves to take at the #2 pick, but there’s a good chance the Wolves will be making some big draft day deals with that #2 pick.

Phoenix: Steve Nash for the #2?  Suns #13 & Marcin Gortat for the #2?

Washington: JaVale McGee & the #6 for the #2?

Los Angeles Lakers: Pau Gasol for Kevin Love & the #2?  Andrew Bynum?  Lamar Odom for the #2?

Toronto: DeMar DeRozan & the #5 for Jonny Flynn & the #2?

Milwaukee: Andrew Bogut & the #10 for the #2?

Indiana: Roy Hibbert & the #15 for the #2?  Danny Granger for #2 & Michael Beasley?

Atlanta: Josh Smith for the #2?

**These are just a few of the trade rumors that have come up since the NBA Draft Lottery on May 17th, many have already been refuted (nearly every one of them!), but anything can happen on draft night!

Thanks for reading, stay tuned as today we’ll be putting out the “Mock Draft Differentials around the Net->Part III”.  Also check daily for TWolves news, information & updates all year round.  GO WOLVES!

UPDATE: A recent report from ESPN NBA, has the likeliest trade for the Wolves’ #2 will be to the Phoenix Suns for the #13 and Marcin Gortat.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been shopping the #2 pick, quite hard the since the NBA Draft Lottery. They’ve been in talks with a number of teams looking to move up in this week’s draft (6/23).

As you look through past posts you’ll find dozens of trade rumors that continue to pop up nearly everyday. Today, the same team, but a different player has emerged: the Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum.

The Wolves have been adamant that they want a veteran big man in return for the #2 pick and Bynum would obviously fill that role.

The Wolves & Lakers were reportedly in talks earlier this week about Spanish big man: Pau Gasol as Kahn is looking for some Spaniards to put around Rubio. However, the Lakers were asking for the #2 pick and Kevin Love as they’re looking to accumulate a lot of young talent. David Kahn has refuted that rumor saying that Kevin Love will be playing for the Timberwolves next season—that’s a promise!

However, Jim Buss of the LA is a big supporter of Bynum and likely wouldn’t let him go, unless they were absolutely blown away by an offer.

Bynum has struggled the past couple years with knee problems, so the Wolves are reportedly hesitant.

The Pacer we’re referring to is not Danny Granger, as his name has been mentioned before, but rather 7-2 Roy Hibbert. The Pacers reportedly offered Hibbert and the #15 for the #2, but the Wolves didn’t bite.

Other veteran big man that have shown up on the TWolves radar recently include: Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut & Washington’s JaVale McGee. However, both of these teams have made it clear they have no intention of trading their young centers. Another is Phoenix big man Marcin Gortat.

That’s all for now, the draft is now just days away as trade chatter is sure to persist. Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!

Michael Beasley of the Minnesota Timberwolves has recently returned to Twitter after a short absence two month absence.

He left the “Twitter World” about 2 months ago.  It was a few days after the Wolves’ game last game in Oklahoma City.  It happened just after that hard foul on Beasley by Bynum that got (Andrew) Bynum suspended two games.

After the Thunder game, Beasley re-tweeted a tweet from a TWolves season ticket holder: TWolvesLady.  TWolvesLady tweeted: “I sure wish coach would like @RealMikeBeasley play his game!”

A few days later before a game against the Dallas Mavericks, Beasley was questioned about the retweet and he said something along the lines of it being unintentional…a short while later @RealMikeBeasley was no longer on Twitter.  According to Beasley at the time, he’d just gotten tired of it.

The full story of what happened that made Beasley originally delete his Twitter account can be found by following this link: <http://minnesotatimberwolves.tumblr.com/post/4101645250/realmikebeasley-issue>

It’s good to have Michael Beasley back on Twitter and hopefully he’ll be back with the Wolves next season.  As trade rumors circulate; that if the TWolves draft Derrick Williams, they’ll look to move Beasley.

Thanks for reading and remember to stay tuned all year round for your TWolves news, information and updates.  GO WOLVES!

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without reserve rookie center Nikola Pekovic.  He injured his hip in last night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Without Pekovic Darko, Randolph & Tolliver will all see more time in the frontcourt.

Kevin Love is practicing wit the team today, since his groin/knee injuries.  He’s still questionable for tomorrow’s game vs. the Celtics at the Target Center.  If he’s able to come back I’m sure his injury will slow him down a bit and Randolph will most likely see some extended minutes (even more so, with Pekovic now out).

Michael Beasley has been a little hampered since the hard fall on Andrew Bynum’s flagrant two foul and subsequent suspension from that March 18th game.  He should be fine and will obviously be able to play.

The T’Wolves face the Celtics tomorrow night at the Target Center, tipoff is set for 7pmCT and a full-gameday preview can be found on this site before then.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!

Tonight the Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Oklahoma City Thunder at the OKC Arena.  The Wolves will be in search of just their 6th road win of the season, while the playoff-bound Thunder, who are currently the 4th seed in the West look to move up the ladder.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 17-55 on the year, Oklahoma City sits currently at 46-24 on the year.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will once again be without Kevin Love as he’s back in Minnesota nursing groin and knee injuries.  Anthony Randolph will get the start again at the 4 and after last night’s eruption of 31 points (a new career best) against the Dallas Mavericks, he could be in for another big output tonight.  Michael Beasley only played 24 minutes in that loss.  Whether it’s because he’s still being hampered by that hip injury he suffered on that hard foul committed by Andrew Bynum on March 18 or maybe he’s being hampered by Coach Kurt Rambis, he didn’t seem to happy after last night’s game.  As a matter of fact he retweeted a tweet on Twitter (that’s quite a mouthful) by a T’Wolves fan by the name of TWolvesLady a season ticket holder and fan of the Wolves.  She tweeted: I sure wish coach would just let @RealMIkebeasley play his game!  However if you visit Twitter now, it appears as though Michael Beasley has deleted his twitter account to which TWolvesLady had this to say: I’m so sad Micheal Beasley’s twitter is gone! :( I feel bad!  But, I’m sure someone’ll ask him about it after the game, more detail to follow!

Back to the game though.  The Thunder are a young and uber-talented group featuring Kevin Durant (whose currently dropping 27.9ppg), Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, James Harden and new addition Kendrick Perkins.

It should be a tough game for the Wolves, but if they can get efficient output from Anthony Randolph, Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson and Luke Ridnour, there’s no reason why they can’t compete and even defeat the Thunder.

Tonight’s key players to watch…

For the Timberwolves, you’ve got to watch AR, after that 31-point night, hopefully he’ll be looking for more against the “average” frontcourt of OKC.  If Michael Beasley gets the time and gets going early, he could change the game in a very positive way for the Wolves.

For the Thunder its got to be Kevin Durant: one of the best, if not the best, scorers in the game.  Also the young All-Star Russell Westbrook a supremely talented young point guard.

Tipoff is just and hour away.  Enjoy the game!  A full-gameday recap can be found on this site following the final horn.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES

The Dallas Mavericks came in thinking it would be an easy win and that was evident, as the Wolves jumped out to an early yet small lead and maintained it and stayed right with the Mavs.  

Surprising for the Wolves as they were without All-Star Kevin Love (who’s nursing groin and knee injuries) and Michael Beasley was still shaken up from that hard foul committed by Andrew Bynum on March 18th and played just 24 minutes and contributed just 12 points, 6 boards and 5 turnovers!

However, it was Love’s replacement in the starting lineup that kept the Wolves close.  Anthony Randolph got his first start of the season and first start for the Wolves last night and he made the most of it!  AR dumped in a career-high 31 points (previously 28), 11 rebounds and had 3 assists, 2 steals and a block and went head-to-head with Dirk Nowitzki.

With 1:17 remaining in the game Jonny Flynn slashed inside for a layup to make it 98-96 Dallas, however a three by Jason Terry put the Mavs up 101-96.  The final score had the Mavs winning 104-96 propelled by a late 4th quarter 11-2 run.

Dallas as usual was led by their All-Star and former MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.  Jason Terry had 18 off the bench and Peja added 16 off the pine as well.  Shawn Marion started and contributed 17.

Minnesota was led by Randolph with 31 points, Jonny Flynn had 13 off the bench, Beasley had 12 and Johnson and Tolliver each had 11.

The Minnesota Timberwolves fall to 17-55 on the season as the Dallas Mavericks improved to 50-21 (their 11th straight 50-win season).  

The Timberwolves will face the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.  Tipoff is set for 7pmCT and a full-gameday preview can be found on this site shortly.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES

The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their 2nd worst home-loss in franchise history this evening, when they got blown out by the Sacramento Kings 127-95.

The Wolves were without Kevin Love for most of the game after he came out with a groin injury int the second, in 14 minutes he had just 3 boards and no points.  Michael Beasley’s hip was bothering him from the hard foul from Bynum (see previous post).  Beasley played just 15 minutes and had 13 points.  

The Sacramento Kings were without DeMarcus Cousins for part of the game as well after he was ejected after getting tangled up with Luke Ridnour and eventually pushing Martell Webster, he played 21 minutes and 3 points, 1 board and 4 assists.  They were also without their best player in Tyreke Evans, still out with foot issues. 

The Kings were propelled by Samuel Dalembert who had 26 points (1 shy of a new career-high) and 17 rebounds, Marcus Thornton chipped in 23 and Beno Udrih added 19.

The Timberwolves were lead by Luke Ridnour with 22 points and off the bench came Anthony Randolph with 14 points.

Without Love the Timberwolves were out-rebounded 27-47!

No effort and injuries to their two best players handed the Kings there 17th win of the season, tying them for last place in the Western Conference with…you guessed it: THE TIMBERWOLVES!

The Timberwolves will play the Dallas Mavericks Thursday March 24!

Andrew Bynum’s hard foul on Michael Beasley that got him ejected and suspended 2 games on March 18th.