Kahn: "[Y]ou can assume five or six players will be back."

[Krapinsky]

Wolves' first round pick wanted
Every team has someone in Minneapolis as two mass pre-draft workouts are taking place and this gives the opportunity to discuss a lot pf potential deals.

The Minnesota Timberwolves own the No. 18 selection in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft and president of basketball operations David Kahn says a bunch of teams have interest in the pick.

"It's always easier when you see people in person," Kahn told the Pioneer Press. "Some people pulled me aside and dropped a hint or were more forceful than that. We have to stay open to everything. We need to get better."

The Wolves own the No. 18 pick from the Al Jefferson trade in 2010.

"There will be some turnover, but the hub of the team will largely be the same," Kahn said. "Without naming names, you can assume five or six players will be back."

-- Nick Borges

Not exactly surprising, but good to hear.

[moss_is_1]

I like the sound of that, you can pretty much guess since there's quite a few free agents.

Rubio, Love, Pekovic, Ridnour or Barea, Wes/Wayne/Lee, then possibly Derrick are really the only ones I can see.

[Klomp]

They poorly quoted that

Kahn: Well, I think it will largely remain the same, when you think about some of the key players here, as I said at the end of the season. I mean, you know for example, Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love will be back. That's a given. And there's probably, without naming names, I could name 5 or 6 names that I'm pretty certain will be back. And that's not to say that everybody else will be gone, but I do think there will be some turnover. I think the guts of the team will, in some respects, remain the same. But we need to get better. And we will get better.

[shangrila]

Well I'd say it's Love, Rubio and Pek, with both Barea and Ridnour safe while Rubio still recovers. So there's 5. Williams or Lee could be the 6th.

[Worm Guts]

It would annoy me if both Barea and Ridnour were safe, neither should be. Really only Love, Rubio and Pek should be safe.

[The J Rocka]

It would annoy me if both Barea and Ridnour were safe, neither should be. Really only Love, Rubio and Pek should be safe.

Only reason I see them both back is because of Rubio's injury. Of course anything can happen including finding a cheaper replacement but I won't be surprised if both are back.

[Worm Guts]

Rubio's injury is the only reason I wouldn't be trying to push one out the door. I'd still be very open to trading one.

[Klomp]

Luke and JJ get way too much hate around here and at Target Center? Why? Because they aren't Rubio? Nobody is like Rubio, doesn't mean we need to hate every other PG on the roster.

[Klomp]

BTW that quote sounds like its 5 or 6 in addition to Rubio/Love, not including Rubio/Love. Adjust your lists accordingly.

[Worm Guts]

Luke and JJ get way too much hate around here and at Target Center? Why? Because they aren't Rubio? Nobody is like Rubio, doesn't mean we need to hate every other PG on the roster.

It's not about hating either of them. I think we have too much invested in point guards. If trading one means helping out another position it's a no brainer.

[Krapinsky]

Luke and JJ get way too much hate around here and at Target Center? Why? Because they aren't Rubio? Nobody is like Rubio, doesn't mean we need to hate every other PG on the roster.

It's not about hating either of them. I think we have too much invested in point guards. If trading one means helping out another position it's a no brainer.

I agree with Worm. We don't need $8.5M/year invested in the back up point guard position, especially when we need an overhaul at the wing positions and a back up center.

Luke or Barea + Lee as an emergency option is good enough.

[Worm Guts]

I also disagree with the idea that we need both with Rubio out. Based on this season we suck with Rubio out, so who cares who our 2nd point guard is.

[Klomp]

Luke or Barea + Lee as an emergency option is good enough.

Look at what happened this year. We had Rubio/Luke/JJ and still needed Malcolm as an emergency option.

It's not about hating either of them. I think we have too much invested in point guards. If trading one means helping out another position it's a no brainer.

Thats fair. I just get the impression far too often that it is not about positional need, and more that people just think either/both suck. Maybe I've just seen too many posts from Vindicator, though.

[Klomp]

I also disagree with the idea that we need both with Rubio out. Based on this season we suck with Rubio out, so who cares who our 2nd point guard is.

We didn't suck because of our PGs though. Why turn a strength into a weakness?

[Worm Guts]

I also disagree with the idea that we need both with Rubio out. Based on this season we suck with Rubio out, so who cares who our 2nd point guard is.

We didn't suck because of our PGs though. Why turn a strength into a weakness?

Because we don't need both when Ricky's back, and unless we upgrade at other positions, it doesn't matter when he's not back.

[eyeteeth]

Barea and Ridnour are both very solid bench players. It might seem redundant to keep both of them but they provide such remarkably different things for the team that I think it's a real asset to have them both as options. Barea provides instant energy and dribble penetration, Ridnour calms things down and is great at knocking down the open J. They are both affordable and very reliable. Barea was a key piece on a championship team and Ridnour just won the sportsmanship award for the year. Unless there's a very good reason to trade one, they should both be back.

[Klomp]

Barea and Ridnour are both very solid bench players. It might seem redundant to keep both of them but they provide such remarkably different things for the team that I think it's a real asset to have them both as options. Barea provides instant energy and dribble penetration, Ridnour calms things down and is great at knocking down the open J. They are both affordable and very reliable. Barea was a key piece on a championship team and Ridnour just won the sportsmanship award for the year. Unless there's a very good reason to trade one, they should both be back.

Completely agree. Well said.

[rick_21]

It's not about hating either of them. I think we have too much invested in point guards. If trading one means helping out another position it's a no brainer.

+1

[Wolves21]

The only players that should be on the squad next season for this year is Love,Rubio,Pekovic,Ridnour,Barea and Lee.Everyone else should be gone and Derrick Williams should be used as trade bait to land a legit starting caliber SG or SF.

[shangrila]

I think Williams deserves a second season and will probably get it. His value isn't all that high and the team can upgrade the wings without trading him.