RealGM

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonath ... -22nd-3276

The wildcard in all this are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who could throw a wrench in things by trading up to #2 to take Ricky Rubio. Sources say that Rubio’s camp has warmed up significantly to David Kahn and the Timberwolves organization as of late, and that they would not be opposed to him landing there. The catch is that the rookie scale salary slot of the #6 pick would not be sufficient in terms of satisfying Rubio’s gigantic buyout from DKV Joventut, so Kahn would have to trade into the top three to make that happen.

At this point, Kahn is holding firm on not putting Kevin Love on the table for the right to move up in the draft, and is instead trying to acquire another pick to entice Memphis to swap with them. As other media outlets have reported, they are targeting Washington’s #5 pick, but are only offering some combination of Randy Foye, Mike Miller and the #18 pick, which probably won’t get it done.

-According to an NBA source, super active Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn has offered Mike Miller to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Chris Kaman. The Clippers shot down that trade, but countered with Marcus Camby.

I love it when Jonathan Givony publishes a new editions of Word on the Street...always promises some delicious tid-bits. Especially with how active Kahn has been on the phones.

I think a more likely scenario than getting Washington's pick is trading for a slightly lower top 10 pick like Toronto and then offering 6+9 for 2, imo. More fair and reasonable all around. I'm sure Kahn is on it if it's a possibility.

Interesting that Kahn would offer Miller for Kaman...that's a lot of salary to take on. Camby would be a good one year band-aid, but he's not a solution either and a one year band-aid is the last thing this team needs.

If everything fell to pieces and the only deal we got done was a Mike Miller for Marcus Camby trade, I'd be bummed, but only a little bit. Camby is an expiring deal, just like Miller. But he's also a help-side defender that can cover Jefferson and Love's butts. Now obviously he's not a great man defender, but if we used the #6 to pick up size on the perimeter, like Ty Evans, our defense just got better for 2009-10, which I likey. Little less embarassing.

Plus Camby could be moved at the deadline as well if we're not having that good of a season.

Makes it sound like we can have rubio for love and Kahn is trying to broker a better deal not including Love, which I really like. 5 and 6 would really be overpaying though.
Also interesting that Heisley flew in just to watch thabeet work out and he canceled on them, which is great for us because it could make them even more desperate to move the pick.

This meshes with what rev said, we have our main plan (rubio at 2), and it sounds like we are developing contingency plans to better use our assets, but if they fall through love is going for rubio.

If we somehow landed 2, 5, and 6 I think the draft would fall this way:
1. Griffin
2. Rubio
3. Thabeet or Harden
4. Flynn or Holiday
5. Thabeet or Harden
6. Evans or Earl Clark

Rubio/Evans/Thabeet is my best case scenario from draft day, I think Evans would thrive as a wade-style slashing 2-guard. If we land any of those 3 guys on draft day I will be happy.

i think the biggest hurdle to a memphis "trade up" deal (instead of love) is the prospect of jordan hill going at 5. He is their obvious target in a trade down. Grabbing the wizard's pick solves that problem.

No to camby, he's too old, not alot of trade value left in him. we need guys who'll be around in 2011 if we deal miller.

Austin Daye has a guarantee to us at 18. For us, or is there a deal already signed off on where we send out 18?
http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=283

Wow, I am really liking everything I am reading about Kahn. Between the interviews and these leaks I come away impressed with the way he thinks. His diligence in pursuit of Rubio and/or another pick and even Kaman are all positive signs of a personnel man who "gets it", not a rookie GM. I'm not used to this. I was so used to Kevin McHale going against my train of thought for so long I'm having to reteach myself how to react media blurbs about the T-Wolves.

Sources say that Rubio’s camp has warmed up significantly to David Kahn and the Timberwolves organization as of late, and that they would not be opposed to him landing there.

In all honesty, reading that made me as giddy as a schoolgirl. I've always read about Rubio, I hope I don't get let down this year or my heart will sink (kind of like that feeling you all had when we found out we got the 6th pick).

Givony is as plugged in as anyone in the media, and Rubio wanting to play here is the BIG UNANSWERED QUESTION, so this is the best news I could've hoped for when I logged on tonight.

FWIW, some people I've talked to around the league think the Kings taking Flynn over Rubio is a smokescreen so that another team doesn't trade ahead of them and take Rubio.

mnWI wrote:FWIW, some people I've talked to around the league think the Kings taking Flynn over Rubio is a smokescreen so that another team doesn't trade ahead of them and take Rubio.

exactly. I don't buy any rumor by the Kings saying they won't pick Rubio. even if they are sold on other PG prospects I doubt they won't take advantage of the value Rubio seems to have.

but reading all these comments by Kahn makes me really excited. tommorrow night can't come soon enough.

Why? What are you doing tomorrow?

lol until now I thought draft night would be tommorrow night.

"The wildcard in all this are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who could throw a wrench in things by trading up to #2 to take Ricky Rubio. Sources say that Rubio’s camp has warmed up significantly to David Kahn and the Timberwolves organization as of late, and that they would not be opposed to him landing there. The catch is that the rookie scale salary slot of the #6 pick would not be sufficient in terms of satisfying Rubio’s gigantic buyout from DKV Joventut, so Kahn would have to trade into the top three to make that happen".

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That rumor answers THE unanswered question ... but it is still just a rumor. The Rube is the man and Kahn appears to have him in his sights. Let the Rube-Chat continue...

Thabeet backing out on the Grizz? ... ouch.

The #5 pick saga has become the real critical factor for draft positioning. Not only could acquiring the #5 pick lock us in to move up to #2, but I fear it could allow another team leverage to compete with us in going after Rubio ... Memphis would then take Evans at #5. MN get neither Rubio or Evans - 2 of 3 players in this draft who are certainly the most legit.

Having Griffin, Rubio, and Evans off the board by #6 would leave us with real question marks and likely into a trade down mode.

I kind of get the idea that if we can net the #5 pick, we'd add #18 and a player or two and try to trade up for the #2. Then we could take Rubio and keep the #6 where Thabeet could fall. If not I'd go after Harden/DeRozan. Imagine a Rubio/Harden draft. That'd be unfreaking real.

I've said all along that any team that wants Rubio has to go through Memphis to get him. The #5 and #6 for #2 is the current price I suppose. My guess is that the Grizzlies would take Evans and Hill, which isn't a bad pair in return for Rubio. As far as Thabeet goes he would be doing Memphis a favor by not wanting to play there since they already have Gasol, and that, along with perhaps OKC assuring Thabeet that they'll take him as their #1 center made him hesitate at Memphis.

I do find it funny that the Grizzlies owner flew in just to see Thabeet and he doesn't show. Hopefully the cheapskate Hesiley will some day get the message.

Downtown wrote:I've said all along that any team that wants Rubio has to go through Memphis to get him. The #5 and #6 for #2 is the current price I suppose. My guess is that the Grizzlies would take Evans and Hill, which isn't a bad pair in return for Rubio. As far as Thabeet goes he would be doing Memphis a favor by not wanting to play there since they already have Gasol, and that, along with perhaps OKC assuring Thabeet that they'll take him as their #1 center made him hesitate at Memphis.

I do find it funny that the Grizzlies owner flew in just to see Thabeet and he doesn't show. Hopefully the cheapskate Hesiley will some day get the message.

Will SAC make a final push, or have they opted to settle on another options?

It's looking more and more like a deal with Minnesota will go down if they want it too. They are the perfect fit (assetwise) as a trading partner with the Grizz. If y'all want Rubio, he's there for the taking. The only question is what package will it be.

I think Thabeet/Rubio go 2/3. I think both Memphis and OKC want Thabeet therefore Memphis will take Thabeet unless they get a trade offer they like for someone trading up for Rubio. If Rubio goes 2, then I think OKC just takes Thabeet. If Thabeet goes 2, however, then things get interesting. I don't think OKC would take Rubio to keep him (look at Westbrook's comments in ESPN the magazine's mock where he basically says no to Rubio because he's staying at the point), but would take him and trade him for the best deal. If they don't get a trade they like, I suppose they could take Harden or maybe Curry but my money's on them taking and dealing Rubio. I think all the talk of OKC having their heart set on Harden (over Thabeet and Rubio) was just a smokescreen.

With all that said, I think it's going to be much easier to deal with OKC then Memphis. Memphis knows that if they trade down they're giving up Thabeet so they want alot in compensation for that. OKC, on the other hand, I don't believe is in love with anyone at 3 if Thabeet's gone, so they may be more willing to swap picks at a lower cost. Heck, Harden may slip to 6 if Washington takes Curry or Hill or OKC might prefer Curry or Derozan to Harden anyway so doesn't mind trading down.

In the unlikely event Rubio makes it to 4, I can't see Sacramento passing. Ford's stories about them maybe preferring Flynn or Evans to Rubio have to just be a smokescreen, right?

Well, I could certainly see OKC picking Rubio and trading down for Harden + sweetener. SAC wants Rubio and might pay for him, and Harden fits OKC so nicely that the thought of a Durant-Westbrook-Green-Harden-Krystic core makes me sick.

I love how both guys on our radar are hating on Memphis

Hopefully we zone in on that #2 whilst keeping Love in Minnesota

Ahhhhhhhhhhh I hate the wait before the draft

Interesting, it could get complicated if Memphis asked for Love + #5 or #6 for the #2/filler ...

Thoughts?

Dewey wrote:Interesting, it could get complicated if Memphis asked for Love + #5 or #6 for the #2/filler ...

Thoughts?

Unless that filler is Rudy Gay or Mike Conley there is no way we make that deal and even with one of those two I'm not sure I would.