Johnson to work out for team on Tuesday, rumors on team's draft picks and more
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
After a session with late first-rounders and second-round prospects, the Wolves' pre-draft workouts turn to the No. 4 pick on Tuesday when Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson -- a legitimate possibility for the Wolves' first selection -- arrives at Target Center.
From Chad Ford/ESPN:
The Minnesota Timberwolves are exploring ways of moving up to No. 2 to get their hands on Turner. If they stay at No. 4 and Turner and Favors are off the board, I think you can expect to hear Johnson's name called here. We have had Johnson at No. 4 in the mock draft since May.
In fact, Cousins won't even come in to work out with the team, his agent, John Greig, told me. Greig, along with a league source, disputes a report that Cousins wasn't invited to Minnesota. Greig said he believes Minnesota is already locked into Johnson at No. 4 and wants to keep Cousins focused on places he could realistically go.
While the Minnesota Timberwolves have held discussions with teams about trading up and selecting Evan Turner, sources say it seems as though they'll be standing pat and select Wesley Johnson fourth overall.
Minnesota was never sold on DeMarcus Cousins and they will not be working him out prior to the draft. Cousins didn't appear to be a good fit with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love in the frontcourt and the center's attitude and actions in recent weeks didn't help his stock.Johnson has been excited about the idea of playing in Minnesota for quite awhile now.
NBA fans in Minnesota have been buzzing about Nikola Pekovic for some time, and it appears the rest of the league may finally get an introduction next season. The Timberwolves selected Pekovic with the 31st overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and it was believed he might have gone much higher if it hadn't been for the three-year contract he signed with Panathinaikos that same summer.
The following year he averaged 13 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18 minutes per game as Panathinaikos won the Euroleague championship. The Timberwolves are now rumored to be offering Pekovic a deal similar to that signed by Luis Scola in Houston - three years, $9 million - but Pekovic's camp wants more. A viral rumor has the Rockets willing to offer him their MLE, with Houston sending the 14th overall pick in this summer's draft to Minnesota for Pekovic and a lower pick.