Minnesota's new president of basketball operations, David Kahn, is hoping to make a splash and renew interest in a Wolves team that has fallen off the NBA radar in the last two years and has struggled to sell tickets at the Target Center since Kevin Garnett was traded to Boston two years ago. The Wolves hope Rubio, with his skill and telegenic personality, can be a star and solidify them at the point. With forward Al Jefferson ahead of schedule in his return from an ACL tear last season, and second-year forward Kevin Love, Minnesota has some good young pieces.

The Wolves also have several expiring contracts -- forwards Brian Cardinal, Mark Madsen and Craig Smith -- that they hope will be enticing pieces for teams looking to shed salary in time for the expected 2010 free agent bonanza. And, now, Minnesota has four first-round picks: 5, 6, 18 and 28. At worst, if Memphis turns them down (the Grizzlies are ready to take Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet if they stay at two, and that would leave Sacramento, picking fourth, to take Rubio, with Oklahoma City taking Arizona State guard James Harden at three), the Wolves could select two players from a group that would likely include Davidson's Stephen Curry, Memphis' Tyreke Evans, Arizona forward Jordan Hill and USC swingman DeMar DeRozan.