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In talking to a number of league sources in the run-up to the draft, HOOPSWORLD keeps hearing one name, in particular, involving possible draft day trades. We've heard plenty of rumors involving Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson, and it turns out that where there's smoke there is definitely fire. Quite a few teams have indicated that Al Jefferson is one of their primary targets this summer.

The challenge for Timberwolves GM David Kahn and his team will be finding just the right deal. Several teams believe a draft day deal could get the deal done, and that the Timberwolves have targeted a player near the top of the draft as their ideal piece. Given their need for a center - Darko Milicic is saying he's finished with the NBA and Ryan Hollins is inconsistent - the Wolves could use Sacramento's fifth overall pick to land a player like Greg Monroe from Georgetown. Jefferson would be an upgrade over Jason Thompson, meaning the Kings could send him out and land another piece for their long-term puzzle.

The Timberwolves also need an upgrade at the guard spots, where Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions both look like good back-up point guards and Corey Brewer also looks like he would be better served as a back-up shooting guard. Unlike last year, however, the 2010 draft class is not incredibly deep in talented guards.

Jefferson In Demand

In talking to a number of league sources in the run-up to the draft, HOOPSWORLD keeps hearing one name, in particular, involving possible draft day trades. We've heard plenty of rumors involving Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson, and it turns out that where there's smoke there is definitely fire. Quite a few teams have indicated that Al Jefferson is one of their primary targets this summer.

The issue, of course, is that the Timberwolves really have two starting power forwards. Jefferson was acquired in the trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston, but the team subsequently drafted Kevin Love, and Love appears to have all-star potential at the four. He's a better rebounder and as good a scorer as Jefferson, but he has the added ability of hitting the three and he's vastly better at the free throw line. The team tried starting Love and Jefferson together a few times last season, but that didn't yield the wins, so it appears the Wolves will cash in Jefferson and slide Love into the starter's role.

The challenge for Timberwolves GM David Kahn and his team will be finding just the right deal. Several teams believe a draft day deal could get the deal done, and that the Timberwolves have targeted a player near the top of the draft as their ideal piece. Given their need for a center - Darko Milicic is saying he's finished with the NBA and Ryan Hollins is inconsistent - the Wolves could use Sacramento's fifth overall pick to land a player like Greg Monroe from Georgetown. Jefferson would be an upgrade over Jason Thompson, meaning the Kings could send him out and land another piece for their long-term puzzle.

The Timberwolves also need an upgrade at the guard spots, where Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions both look like good back-up point guards and Corey Brewer also looks like he would be better served as a back-up shooting guard. Unlike last year, however, the 2010 draft class is not incredibly deep in talented guards.

Still, there are plenty of teams looking to make moves on draft day, and it sounds like Jefferson might be the biggest name that gets moved as part of the annual draft party. There are certainly a lot of teams saying they have had conversations with the Timberwolves about acquiring him.

Calinks wrote:IF I was a team I'd be trying to get Jefferson too. Hell, the Kings should be doing whatever they can to get him. I'd be a Kings fan if they had Big Al and Evans, that would be fun stuff.

J_Era_3 wrote:Yup and the Kings & Thunder would be the new young and fun teams to watch make it to the 7-8th seed in the West while the Wolves & Warriors are battling for the worst record.