Paul Allen to serve as team's lucky charm at lottery and more
From Jonah Ballow's twitter account:
David Kahn will represent the #Twolves at the NBA Draft Lottery -- 1130 KFAN radio host Paul Allen will serve as lucky charm
From Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site:
Paul Allen: It originated Friday on my show on the Wolves flagship KFAN. I had the Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn on the show and I mentioned to him that even though he hasn't been here that long, I'm sure he knows about our misfortune, our favorite basketball team has had in the lottery. For instance, a couple of years ago when the Chicago Bulls had a 1.7 percent chance of getting No. 1, they got it and we didn't. So stuff like that has happened over the years and I mentioned to him the Kentucky Derby was the next day, May 1st. I have a 10-year losing streak in the Kentucky Derby, so much like the Timberwolves in the NBA Draft Lottery; I have fallen on misfortune in the Derby. I guaranteed him on the radio show that No. 4 Super Saver would win that race and if he did win that race, I would be on an influential run and I would like to join the Timberwolves in Secaucus to maybe bring the team some luck come NBA Draft Lottery day on May 18th. So, Super Saver wins the Kentucky Derby at 8-1 and I don't hear anything from the Timberwolves until the Tuesday after the race when Ted Johnson calls me and says, "Mr. Kahn would like you to join the team at the NBA Draft Lottery, just in case you are lucky, just in case you are hot."
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
Timberwolves President David Kahn said he isn't contemplating any good-luck strategies for the NBA draft lottery on May 18.
"I'm not sure yet, but if I thought there was something we could do that would influence the odds, of course we'd do it," Kahn said from Paris, where he will watch top draft pick Ricky Rubio play point guard for Spain in the European championships this weekend.
"But I think (the lottery) is just pure blind luck."
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From Tim Warren/Washington Post:
Barcelona, on the other hand, has the undisputed rock star of the tournament, floppy-haired point guard Ricky Rubio. Drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves last year, Rubio decided to stay in his native Spain. His precocious playmaking at the 2008 Olympics, when he was only 17, made believers of the NBA stars on the gold-medal-winning U.S. team.
When Mensah-Bonsu, who played briefly alongside Rubio last year in Spain, was asked Thursday if he is ready for the NBA, the response was quick. "Ricky Rubio can play for any team, anywhere," he said. "He plays way beyond his years."