We didn't get one of the top two picks, which is disappointing, but something even better may have fallen in to our laps:

I was reading an article this morning about Philly shopping the #2 pick and the Brand contract (apparently somewhat aggressively - it's not just a pipe dream) and it occurred to me that we may have a rather golden opportunity.

I proposed that we do indeed trade Jefferson and spare change (low draft pick, players to make the cap work, etc.) for Brand and the #2 pick. 

Then use the #2 pick to draft Turner, and our own #4 pick on Cousins or Favors (hopefully it's Cousins).

Brand's contract is terrible, no doubt about it. But think of it this way: we have a hard time recruiting free agents to play in Minnesota (the weather and the losing history make it tough), but we have been able to keep players for a re-up on their contract after drafting them.

So think of Brand's contract as paying for the free agent acquisition of Turner.  An expensive rookie contract, no doubt. But would you rather pay Rudy Gay $15 million a year for 3 years or Evan Turner $18 million a year for 3 years?

Also, with Turner you have a couple of years after that 3 year period where he is much cheaper and we get the chance to re-sign him if he turns out to be excellent.

It's an expensive gamble on a college player, but if it were my money I'd put it in Turner over Gay.

I also think that if we're lucky enough to get Cousins at #4 then Turner is just the kind of leader to have a positive impact on his maturation. Turner would pretty quickly become our team leader.

Rubio, Turner, Love, Cousins

Yes, we'd still need a SG/SF, but that's a nice start, a very nice start. They won't all turn out, but if even 2 of the 4 become All Stars then it's a raging success and I think there is a good chance that happens.

What do you think?  Is there an even better way to acquire these assets?