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!

The 2011 NBA Draft is just 6 days away and the Timberwolves are still drawing interest for their #2 pick.  

There are a number of different trade scenarios that have emerged since the May Draft Lottery.  From Indiana the Pacers reportedly offered Danny Granger for the #2 & Beasley.  The Wizards were another team that are interested in the #2 pick and a trade that featured JaVale McGee & the #6.  The Phoenix Suns are yet another team that is reportedly ‘very’ interested in the Wolves’ #2 pick.  The Wolves are interested in the veteran point guard: Steve Nash.  Suns’ big man: Marcin Gortat is another interest for Minnesota.  The Raptors reported offer of DeMar DeRozan and the #5 for Jonny Flynn & the #2 were yet another.

Today, another couple trade rumors emerged.  The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly are offering Pau Gasol to Minnesota for Kevin Love and the #2 pick.  Pau Gasol’s name has come up before, but this is the first time the Lakers have actually expressed interest in All-Star Kevin Love-who played his college basketball at UCLA and whose hometown is just North in Oregon.  Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune says that the TWolves are certainly interested in Pau, but definitely not for Love and probably not for the #2.

The other rumor that seems to have emerged today is from the Milwaukee Bucks.  The Bucks are apparently interested in obtaining the #2 pick and rumor is that the Bucks are offering center Andrew Bogut and the #10 for the #2.  However, Frank Madden stated via Twitter that if the Bucks had initiated these talks with Minnesota, the deal would already be done as Bogut & 10 for 2 would be a no-brainer for Minny.  There’s no doubt that when Andrew Bogut is healthy he’s one of the top 2-3 centers in the NBA.

As we wind down the final days till draft night, these rumors will continue to circulate and I’m sure more will emerge.  Remember to stay tuned for daily updates on all TWolves news, information & updates all year round.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!

The 2011 NBA Draft is just 19 days away. The Minnesota Timberwolves have teetered back-and-forth on whether they plan on keeping the #2 pick as well as the #20.

At one point there were rumors of the Wolves trading the pick to the Pacers along with Rubio & Beasley for Danny Granger. A week or so later, it was a three-team trade involving the Cavaliers & the Pistons (which eventually fell through, because the Pistons needed more out of it) that would sent DETs Rip Hamilton & their #8 pick to CLE, then MIN would send their #2 pick to CLE for their #4 & #8.

In a scenario (THERE WERE NO TALKS OFFICIALLY ABOUT THIS) Star Tribune reporter Jerry Zgoda came up with a potential trade for the Wolves. Because they’ve been looking for an athletic center, Zgoda thought that the Wolves could send the #2 pick to the Wizards for young athletic center JaVale McGee as well as their #6 pick (the Wizards are reportedly very high on Enes Kanter, who really wants to play in D.C.).

However, the Minnesota Timberwolves still hold the pick and at this point it seems likely by most, that they’ll be keeping the pick and whoever they draft with the pick.

Yesterday Assistant GM Tony Ronzone said that the team, for now, is not trading the #2 pick. “I say, right now, we’re keeping two and we really like where we’re at with 2,” Ronzone reiterated.

Although most in the TWolves “brass” say the team intends on keeping the pick (including owner Glen Taylor), most “observers” believe the Wolves will make a move before draft night.

Stay tuned for more updates, news & information all offseason long. Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!

The Minnesota Timberwolves currently own the #2 pick in the NBA Draft next month.  There have been a number of reports & rumors as to what the TWolves will do with the pick.  

One report had the Wolves trading Beasley, Rubio & the #2 pick to the Pacers for Danny Granger.

Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated added that one source has the TWolves trading down in the Draft to select Turkish big man Enes Kanter.

One scenario (that I’ve come up with) is the Wolves trading with the Jazz (who currently own the #3 pick (via NJN)) for that #3 pick and veteran shooting guard: Raja Bell (who they’ve had their eye on for some time now).  They could also look to deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers (who own the #1 & #4 picks)

Enes Kanter would complement Love in the frontcourt.  A physical young big man, who can rebound, score and defend.  Definitely a solid center with some great potential in the League.  I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this as the Draft draws near(er) (June 23rd).

That’s all for now, remember to stay tuned all summer for all your up-to-date Twolves news and information all offseason long.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!

In response to the circulating rumors of a potential trade of the #2 pick, (David) Kahn had some thoughts on it all.  

The rumor of course being that the Timberwolves have been in trade talks with the Indiana Pacers about potentially moving the #2 pick as well as (potentially) Michael Beasley and Ricky Rubio to the Pacers for forward Danny Granger.

Kahn refuted the report earlier today, saying that he has not spoke to the Pacers about any deals for Granger.  Apparently, Kahn also texted an inquiring Indianapolis reporter and asked if the team must include Kevin Love as well!

Sources with the Indiana Pacers have also stated that they have not offered Danny Granger in any deal for Minnesota’s #2 pick.

I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll hear of this.  Stay tuned for all the up-to-date TWolves news and information right here, all offseason long.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!

Since the NBA Lottery, the Timberwolves have suggested they would be willing to trade the #2 pick in the Draft for a proven-veteran.  

Earlier today, Sam Amico of Fox Sports stated that the Pacers are making a serious play for the #2 pick.  According to Amico, Danny Granger of Indiana is being mentioned.  As are Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio & Michael Beasley.

Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD added that, Minnesota has a lot of youth and talent on their roster, but they want a meaningful player back and may actually be asking too much.  Kennedy also added that the Pacers have had Granger as a trade chip so it makes sense, but Beasley wouldn’t fit the ‘culture’ in Indiana.

Kennedy aslo added that, the Pacers may be looking at Enes Kanter with the #2 pick as starting power forward, but that may not be the case as Tyler Hansborough played well at the end of the season.

That’s all for now, stay tuned for all your up-to-date Timberwolves news and information all offseason long.  Thanks for reading and GO WOLVES!