Favors works out for team, Kahn and Rambis say Favors is out of shape, draft workouts scheduled for today and more
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
While they continue to work on getting reluctant DeMarcus Cousins in for a workout and have pretty much given up on seeing Evan Turner here, the Timberwolves on Thursday morning worked out a willing Derrick Favors at Target Center even though the Georgia Tech freshman forward likely will be long gone if they draft fourth come next Thursday.
Favors is impressive physically and athletically, but Kurt Rambis turned to David Kahn not long into the solo workout and commented that he's out of shape.
From Tom Pelissero/1500ESPN.com:
"He isn't in shape," Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn said after Favors' workout at Target Center. "You could see that right off the bat."
Coach Kurt Rambis, owner Glen Taylor and other notables also were on hand as the 18-year-old power forward drilled on the arena's main floor -- gassing easily and fighting his jumper but impressing with his length, leaping and ability to run the floor at 6-10 and 248 pounds.
Favors then departed for Philadelphia to work out for the 76ers, who reportedly are debating whether to take him or Ohio State forward Evan Turner with the No. 2 overall pick in next week's NBA Draft. To keep his options open, Favors already has worked out for Sacramento, which has the No. 5 pick, and also plans to visit New Jersey (No. 3).
"Liked him, as we thought we would," Kahn said. "He's quite a specimen when he's 18 years old. ... You have to be patient for him because he's so raw and still so undeveloped. But I think he has the opportunity to be a very fine player in this league."
From Dave Campbell/Associated Press:
As for whether Favors could fit on a team with power forwards Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, Kahn said he wouldn't keep all three of them together for the future.
"If he's there and we take him then it would obviously hasten something else that would have to occur," Kahn said. "It doesn't necessarily have to occur that night. There's not that much pressure to do something right away in that he's 18. While I do believe he will be playing some next year, I don't believe it will be likely for him to play a prominent role on a team next year."
Considering his comments about Favors appearing out of shape and his emphasis that he is a long-term project, Kahn sounded as though he was trying to downplay his value <emdash /> perhaps hoping for a better chance at landing him.
"I think we're in a position where we have to do what's best for the long term viability of the franchise," Kahn said. "Simple as that. While I know people would prefer that it happen sooner rather than later, I don't think that we can be forced into doing something that isn't best for the long-term vision."
From Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site:
Jonah Ballow: Looking at the workout today, you were battling Bill Laimbeer, a legend in the sport for the Detroit Pistons, you ran an end-to-end drill extremely fast and then came over to the side and almost knocked over Laimbeer and he came over and said, "You hit like an ox,"you were like an ox there in the paint so what did you think about going up against Laimbeer?
Derrick Favors: Just learn from him, when I was working out he was giving me advice about how to do the drills, so it was just a whole learning process.
From Jonah Ballow's twitter account:
2 workout sessions tomorrow: James Anderson, Lance Stephenson, Jordan Crawford, Terrico white in the 1st session
Also from Ballow's twitter account:
2nd session: Andy Rautins, Marcus Johnson, Nemanja Bjelica, Lawrence Westbrook, and Damian Johnson
It seems the Minnesota Timberwolves have settled in on Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson as their pick at #4. If something crazy happens in the first three picks and Evan Turner tumbles, the Wolves would change their stance, but as things stand today you can lock Wes Johnson in at #4, even if players like Derrick Favors or DeMarcus Cousins are on the board.
The Wolves have been talking to several teams about dealing some of their lower first-round picks. The Wolves hold the 16th and the 23rd selections and could have a draft day deal or two involving one or both.
Sources close to the situation say most of the interest in those picks comes from teams with an eye on a certain player and if those players are there when Minnesota picks a deal would go down.
It is possible the Wolves trigger a deal before the draft, but insiders close to the team said it's far more likely that anything involving those picks happens during the draft.
From the Timberwolves:
The NBA today released details of their Summer 2010 Basketball Without Borders Asia program, and several members of the Timberwolves organization will be playing prominent roles. Forward Corey Brewer will join fellow NBA players Al Horford, Trevor Ariza, Taj Gibson and Francisco Garcia as headlining players at the camp. Timberwolves regional scout Dean Cooper will serve as the camp director while the team's athletic trainer, Gregg Farnam, will be part of the contingent as well.
Basketball without Borders (BWB) Asia will be held in Singapore this summer from June 28 through July 1. The four-day camp will unite 50 top young basketball players from 22 countries across Asia to promote basketball and encourage positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness.
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
Successful Australian basketball export Nathan Jawai will join Boomers camp on Sunday in preparation for the Aussies' opening basketball World Challenge match against Argentina.
The 2008 NBL rookie of the year and current NBA power forward will join the Boomers at a training camp at the new Western Australia basketball centre in Perth ahead of the series opener at Challenge Stadium on June 25.
Jawai returned to his home town, Cairns on Thursday after putting in some extra training hours in the United States in the hope of regaining an NBA contract next season.