Wolves get 4th pick in draft, Kahn talks about lottery results and draft picks and more
From the Timberwolves site:
The Minnesota Timberwolves were awarded the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft at tonight's NBA Draft Lottery. Fans can get in on the excitement and see this high draft pick in a Wolves uniform this coming season by taking advantage of great Run with the Pack season ticket deals, starting tonight and ending on draft day. The 2010 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 24, at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
"There is excellent talent at the top of the draft and we'll be able to add a talented player to our team no matter where we end up selecting," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "The draft is the first step in what promises to be a busy summer as we continue to improve our team."
From the Star Tribune:
Team president David Kahn, who appeared disappointed when the Wolves’ logo was pulled out of the envelope for the fourth pick, pointed out Monday that Sacramento moved down to fourth (from a projected No. 1) last season, and ended up drafting Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans.
Among the likely candidates available to the Wolves: Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson, Georgetown center Greg Monroe, Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins or Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors. The top two choices are expected to be Kentucky guard John Wall and Ohio State swingman Evan Turner.
From Ray Richardson/Pioneer Press:
But missing out on the first or second pick might have cost the Wolves significant trade leverage with NBA teams that have serious interest in Wall and Turner. Kahn denied a report on ESPN.com that claimed the Wolves had contacted Turner and told him they would draft him if the team landed the No. 1 pick. Kahn called the report "baseless."
Kahn appears to be making it known that he's willing to deal to make improvements. The Wolves have two other first-round picks as a result of trades — No. 16 and No. 23. The value of those picks, however, depends on how NBA executives rate the depth of this year's draft.
"The more you move down (in the draft), the more you can look for a specific need," Kahn said. "We have needs everywhere, especially for wing players."
From Tom Powers/Pioneer Press:
"I know that the first reaction is one of despair and discontent," Kahn said via conference call.
No, Wolves fans didn't need the lottery to experience despair and discontent. It's more of a lifestyle.
Kahn later added: "I'm sorry if I'm not appropriately sad. This is not a night to feel limited."
Besides, he noted that by the time draft night rolls around on June 24, the Wolves' positioning likely will look very different
From the Associated Press:
The Timberwolves went into Tuesday night's draft lottery with the second-best chance to land the No. 1 overall pick. They ended up tumbling down to No. 4, the latest in a long line of hard luck in the NBA's annual drawing.
But team president David Kahn made it clear that the Wolves, who own pick Nos. 4, 16 and 23 in the first round, will be looking to move.
"I'd say the likelihood is that we do do something before the night of (June) 24th," Kahn said. "I'd be very surprised if we are at 4, 16 and 23 on the night of the draft."
In 13 tries, the Timberwolves have never improved their position in the lottery. They have fallen seven times and picked where they were slotted on six occasions.
From Phil Miller/Star Tribune:
Kahn travels to Chicago today for workouts with the top prospects in the draft, and the Wolves will host another camp next week.
"I would expect by next week there will be a lot of trade talk, a lot of activity, and I think it will continue apace all the way up to the night of the 24th," he said. "This is going to be a very tumultuous summer. ... I'm sorry if I'm not appropriately saddened [by the lottery]. But I'm not."
From Howlin T-Wolf: Lottery Results Leaves Everyone Crying "Wolf"
From ProBasketballTalk: NBA Draft Lottery: Timberwolves and Kings fall into tough choices
This is the Curse of the Wolves: Only their luck is worse than their decision-making.
From Andy Katz/ESPN: Wall wants to be Wizard come draft day
Fegan, who openly cheered when the Minnesota Timberwolves got the No. 4 pick because he represents Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio (selected by Minnesota last year but choosing to stay in Spain), was ecstatic at the final three teams -- New Jersey, Washington and Philadelphia -- announcing to the group that they were all East Coast cities for the Raleigh, N.C., native and all major media markets.