WT:T'Wolves eying 5th pick?

[Wizardspride]

http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/outl ... -5th-pick/

As we draw closer to Thursday's NBA draft, the rumors figure to start flying fast and furious as teams try to either move up or move down, or even out, of the draft. Here's another interesting one involving the Wizards. In the past week, I've spoken to two different league sources that have linked Minnesota to the Wizards as a possible trade partner for that No. 5 pick in the draft.

According to one insider, the Timberwolves (who already have the sixth, 18th and 28th picks in the draft) disparately want to move up in order to land UConn big man Hasheem Thabeet. Another report has them badly wanting Rubio. Either way, the T'Wolves are said to be craving Memphis' No. 2 pick, but believe to land it, they need to offer two top-six picks in the draft. Enter the Wizards.

Minnesota reportedly has been working the phones nonstop and of all the teams in the league they're talking to, they've been in speaking with the Wizards the most. Some of the pieces Minnesota is believed to be offering up are swingman Mike Miller, who has a $9.75 million expiring contract, guard Randy Foye, the expiring contracts of Brian Cardinal ($6.75 million) and Mark Madsen ($3.6 million) and possibly the 18th and/or 28th picks.

Miller, an eighth-year veteran, had his worst year of his career last season, averaging 9.9 points. But for his career, averages 13.9 points a game on 46.2 percent shooting (40.1 percent from 3-point range). He could meet the Wizards' perceived desire to upgrade their perimeter attack. But it seems like more pieces would be needed to make this work, even if Minnesota agrees to take on one of the Wizards' expiring contracts -- Etan Thomas ($7.3 million for now, but more if he is traded because of a $2 million trade kicker in his contract) or Mike James ($6.5 million).

Another league source confirmed Minnesota has been haggling to land the Wizards 5th pick, but called it unlikely that the teams would be able to reach an agreement. The source said there is, however, a possibility that Minnesota would be able to work a deal with Oklahoma City to obtain the third pick.

[Dewey]

If we're working relentlessly to move up to the #2, then it's for Rubio since we'd need to get up ahead of Sac. Sending Miller to Washington for Thomas/#5 would be a great deal for both Washington and MN. Miller would be a perfect fit for them and they get rid of Etans deal. it might take additonal picks to make it go, but that's fine as long as we get a shot at adding Austin Daye in the mid-round.

#5/#6 to Memphis ...
#2 to MN ...

Griffin ...LAC
Rubio ...MN
Thabeet or Harden ... OKC
Evans or Holiday ...Sac
One of the above 4 or Hill ... Memphis
One of the above 4 or Hill ... Memphis

[the_bruce]

I've always felt MEM would go Thabeet and OKC would go harden. 2 top 10 picks is way overpaying in this draft considering the player separation in terms of talent. If MN can get the #5 it becomes a fairly simple pick swap operation with okc for rubio since SAC will select a PG and harden will simply fall to #5.

griffin
thabeet
rubio
flynn or evans
Harden

Personally, I think the wolves should stand pat if they can haggle the 5th pick away from WAS. If you figure...

Rubio, Thabeet, Griffin, and in all likelyhood harden will go 1-4. It's much easier to go evans curry. Or evans flynn. or evans holiday. Maybe even toss williams or clark into the mix if we can package up the 18/28. holiday, evans, williams is a killer backcourt overhaul defensively and could be a lot of fun in transition!

I have evans out in front of everybody(save griffin) now on my board. He has been blowing away people in workouts. He comes to workouts that he isn't even invited to. He works out vs anybody. Can probably defend 3 positions at the next level. You can't buy his mentality. love it.

[Devilzsidewalk]

getting the 5th pick is ideal, but not to trade, just keep the 5th and 6th, that'd be the best way to improve the team

[Dewey]

True ... acquiring the 5th pick to take both Evans & Curry at 5 & 6 would be pretty nice. Now you have a top-flight J-shooter and a get to the basket guy. Foye become the 6th man.

But ... Rubio is still the purest play-maker of them all. We cannot under-estimate the positive impact he'd have on the rest of the players performace.

[Esohny]

I don't think anyone is underestimating Rubio's talent, but trading 5 and 6 is a terrible deal. I wouldn't trade 5 and 6 for Griffin, despite his supposed "can't miss" status, let alone Rubio. We'd be far better off going Harden-Holiday, Harden-Evans, Holiday-Evans, Evans-Curry, etc etc.

[FairDinkum]

No player in this draft outside of Griffin is really "Cant miss", and we don't need him...

If we get #5 from Washington, packaging that with #6 in order to move up to #2 is too high of a price to pay for me

[FairDinkum]

Basically what Esohny said haha

[prefuse73]

I have said it before, but Flynn is growing on me. If we could add the 5th pick, we should keep it and go for ideally Flynn and Harden. Curry/Evans would be my second choice.

If we really want rubio, I hope the grizzlies select Thabeet and we use the #6 pick plus Foye for the #3, do the washington deal for #5 and select Harden.

Either way, turning Miller into the #5 and Thomas is a great move.

[shrink]

I've listed this basic idea for the last two months:

1. MIN gets more out of the #5 than WAS
2. Mike Miller fills WAS need at SG
3. MIN takes back big expirings of Etan and James to create a large TPE for WAS
4. MIN does not take back the two-year deals of Songalia or Stevenson and wreck their 2010 cap space
5. I started including Foye on June 10th. I used DAL though as a better intermediary:

The problem with WAS trades is that the Wizards want to do two things .. get under the lux AND fix their SG spot .. and the #5 has too much value for either one, and not enough for both. MIN deals break down when the Wolves get forced to eat 2010 cap space.

Its good to hear the rumors make good sense here.

[the_bruce]

The other problem with getting Rubio is we don't have the type of players he would help thrive. Especially if guys like Foye, Miller, & Love are somehow involved in the moveup. If mn gets the #5 & #6 I could consider the whole love for #2 scenario, but I'd lean toward higher bust potential thabeet as the better replacement/fit for outgoing love.

Also if foye is outbound I'd like to get teague in the teens as a replacement.

Evans, Teague, Clark?

al
love
clark
evans
teague

[Krapinsky]

I've always thought an OKC - Wolves trade makes sense.

Wolves move up and get Rubio or Thabeet (sad face)

OKC falls and still has a good shot at Harden (same position as K. Martin), maybe settles for Curry, Evans, or Derozan

What would it take? Pekovic, #5 for Rubio might get it done.

[B Calrissian]

I think Memphis should throw in something for a 5/6 for 2 deal. If they don't want to, then keep both 5 and 6.

[El_Lobo_3]

I think Memphis should throw in something for a 5/6 for 2 deal. If they don't want to, then keep both 5 and 6.

I agree. It'd be one thing if we were trading up to get kevin durant but it's not like we are targeting some sure thing at that spot. If they don't want to add anything, fine, we will take Evans and someone else and be just as happy =) assuming rubio doesn't win rookie of the year lol

[Devilzsidewalk]

If Kahn could close the deal on #5 while keeping Jefferson, Love and the #6, consider me highly impressed

[Dewey]

I think Memphis should throw in something for a 5/6 for 2 deal. If they don't want to, then keep both 5 and 6.

I agree. It'd be one thing if we were trading up to get kevin durant but it's not like we are targeting some sure thing at that spot. If they don't want to add anything, fine, we will take Evans and someone else and be just as happy =) assuming rubio doesn't win rookie of the year lol

Yes, that would be a realistic way to approach it, but we'd still end up splitting straws at some point. I still lean towards the isea that giving up the #5/6 for the #2 isn't horrible if we still have our other picks and some player assets. Some good opportunity to add a player like Clark, Daye, etc..

[wolves_fan_82au]

im just not that sure on rubio, he would help the team cause hes a need but i still think hes over-rated

[john2jer]

I just want the #5 pick to draft with. As mentioned a Harden/Evans or Harden/Holiday backcourt would be dreamy. Ton of height/length, and the ability to move the ball.

[Dewey]

I just want the #5 pick to draft with. As mentioned a Harden/Evans or Harden/Holiday backcourt would be dreamy. Ton of height/length, and the ability to move the ball.

This proposal is ugly.

Evans is the best option of the 3 you listed, and he can't even shoot. Harden can't dribble with his right hand and his playing speed is questionable. Holiday lacks athleticim to have an impact in the NBA, and has admittedly struggled to develop a collegiate game. But hey, lets roll the dice...

[Benjammin]

If Kahn could close the deal on #5 while keeping Jefferson, Love and the #6, consider me highly impressed

I will be even more impressed if Kahn does this without putting a brain borer into Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld's ear as Grunfeld shouts KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN.





Seriously though there hasn't been the sniff of a deal that would interest the Wizards in this thread. Mike Miller is not going to get it done. You're not getting the 5th pick for a bunch of crap and Mike Miller so forget about that right now.