Article on Rebuilding

[Klomp]

http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ ... ck_check=1

THE DRAFT

More talent could arrive through the draft. The Wolves might get the No. 1 overall pick in the coming draft. And in 2009, the Wolves could have three first-round picks: their own selection to go along with picks acquired from Miami and Boston.

Here's the breakdown:

In the coming draft, the Wolves would have the No. 1 overall pick if the lottery goes their way. In addition, they will have two second-round picks, likely high in the second round.

The Wolves thought they would have an additional first-round pick this summer, but it appears that won't happen because the Miami Heat likely will not make the playoffs. That conditional first-round pick, acquired in October when the Wolves traded Ricky Davis and Mark Blount, will be rolled over to the summer of 2009.

At that point, the pick is protected through the top 10 selections. If Miami bounces back next season, the Wolves could get the Heat's first-round pick in 2009.

In 2009, the Wolves likely will receive the pick acquired from Boston in the Garnett trade. That pick is protected through the top three selections in 2009. Unless the Celtics suffer a catastrophic fall next season, the Wolves would get the pick.

"The picks will give you flexibility," McHale said. "I'm not saying the next two years you draft every one of those picks we get. We might trade some. You might package those up and try to get a veteran. It does give you assets you're trying to have that can help you grow and turn the corner and help you become a better team."

FREE AGENCY

McHale and the Wolves are targeting 2009 as the summer to lure big-name free agents with projected salary cap space. As McHale noted, Jefferson signed for less than the league maximum, which should give the team more flexibility.

General manager Jim Stack, who oversees the team's salary cap, said it's too early to say how much cap space the Wolves might have in 2009. Some of that depends on which players the Wolves re-sign after this season.

The Wolves' restricted free agents are Telfair, Smith, Gomes and Chris Richard. The Wolves can re-sign those players by matching any offers from another team.

Asked specifically about Smith and Gomes, Stack said: "We're very pleased with the development of both of those guys. I would be surprised if both of them aren't back. But it's a long season. A lot of things happen. We'll look at everything and make those decisions accordingly."

The unrestricted free agents are Theo Ratliff, Michael Doleac and Gerald Green. Those expiring contracts will shed about $16 million off the books this summer.

Stack believes the organization is in good position to make a move after trades with Miami, Dallas, Houston and Boston.

"I think what we've accomplished is we've created contract lengths where potentially in two years we could have a lot of money available to us," Stack said.

The plan is for the Timberwolves to develop a young core and get a couple of seasons with those players growing together, Stack said.

"Then we feel like we'll be in a position from a salary-cap standpoint to look at some prime free agents," Stack said. "That's probably a two-year window as we're set up right now. We're trying to time that knowing that that crop of free agents in those years is going to be very top-level guys."

The projected 2009 free-agent class includes veterans such as Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, Mike Bibby, Allen Iverson, Drew Gooden, Rasheed Wallace and Elton Brand. And there's an intriguing group of younger players who will be restricted free agents that year, including Andrew Bynum, Andrew Bogut, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

In the past, even Garnett's presence wasn't enough to lure top free agents to Minnesota, partly because his contract limited the Wolves' flexibility. The team will have more money to spend now, but there's no guarantee free agents will rush to come here.

"That's always a bit of a concern," McHale said. "I think that concern is less if you're Los Angeles or Phoenix or kind of a destination place. But I've said this before: For those people who haven't been to the Palace of Auburn Hills, that's not Phoenix, and they (the Detroit Pistons) can get free agents."

To McHale, if the Wolves are a rising team with a strong young core, they can be attractive to the right players.

"It depends on who's available and what you need and to what level you are willing to go out and sign some of the free agents," he said. "As far as the financial situation, it depends on what players are there."

[shrink]

"The picks will give you flexibility," McHale said. "I'm not saying the next two years you draft every one of those picks we get. We might trade some. You might package those up and try to get a veteran. It does give you assets you're trying to have that can help you grow and turn the corner and help you become a better team."

[cfan79]

I've learned you can't hinge all hope on the lottery. I lot of weird crap has happened on these days. Look at Memphis and Boston last May. They weirdly ended up with the 4th and 5th picks.

Good Luck though Minny, I hope you guys do get the top pick.

[All Day]

"The picks will give you flexibility," McHale said to Hoiberg. "I'm not saying the next two years you draft every one of those picks we get. We might trade some. You might package those up and try to get a veteran. It does give you assets you're trying to have that can help you grow and turn the corner and help you become a better team."

*Fixed

Of the restricted FAs, I think Williams, Paul, and Bynum all stay put based on team success and the fact they all seem to like where they are at. Bogut is who I'm not positive will stay put. I don't know what kind of money he would command on the market.

For the others:
Kidd- Can't see him going to MIN. Might be signing his last contract and is looking for a ring, no matter how much money MIN could throw his way.
Miller- I wouldn't overpay for a guy of Miller's calibur but I could see him find a role on this team.
Bibby- See Kidd
Iverson- See Kidd
Gooden- Not likely to sit on the bench behind AJ.
Wallace- Interesting. Could his style of play fit well next to AJ as a C. He spreads the floor with his range and he has great play on the defensive end as well. But he'll be 34 pushing 35 the time summer 09 rolls around.
Brand- Kind of repetitive with AJ on the team. I don't know how well the team could do defensively with these guys on the floor simultaneously.

But there is still a season and a half of play to assess the team needs. A lot will depend on how Foye develops as a PG.