Timberwolves 2009-2010

[fishin58]

Post Draft

I can see the rookie tandem working, I like both of them for what they can bring offensively. Also help distribut the ball to Love an AL inside.

Defensively I see Rubio matching up well with most shooting guards and Flynn matching up well against the point. I like it.

Now somebody buy Ricky a nice fluffy coat!

[UdeLakeTom]

In response to:

Poster: fishin58

Subject: Re: Timberwolves 2009-2010

Post Draft

.

Now somebody buy Ricky a nice fluffy coat!

Or some Artic Wear...fits the FM image better.

[Scott M]

An Open Letter from David Kahn:

Dear Timberwolves Fans and Supporters:

It's been five weeks since I arrived in Minneapolis and I hope you can feel what I feel: change.

I especially want to talk about last night's draft and explain why we made the decisions we did.

First, from a philosophical standpoint, I believe that teams should select players in the top 10 of the NBA Draft who have the chance — and I underline the word chance — to be special later in their careers. You do not use the fifth and sixth picks to select rotation players, but only players that figure to be starters, if not out-and-out stars.

So, we were committed to taking two players who fit that description, and we were less concerned about the positions they played, assuming they were not power forwards.

There were several two-person options we would have been comfortable with at those selections.

It wasn't until late Thursday afternoon that I thought there was a chance Ricky Rubio might be available for us at No. 5. I had actually been told by somebody who I deeply respect in the NBA that Ricky would be selected third by Oklahoma City. But we were prepared for all options nonetheless.

Ricky has one of the most tenacious, most capable agents in our sport, Dan Fegan. He cares deeply about his clients. I explained to Dan late afternoon that we were singularly motivated to build an NBA championship-contending team in Minnesota — that it might take a few years, of course — but that nobody here cared about anything other than competing for an NBA title. That we have only one life to live, and that we must spend our lives trying, as Pat Riley once taught me, to leave footprints.

I purposely selected Ricky with the fifth pick, not the sixth, to help with his buyout situation. Ricky and his family have taken a very bold step to enter the NBA despite having two years remaining on his contract with his Spanish team. I know that they would have preferred that we try to move to the second or third pick to take him, and I respect their wishes, but my belief was that we need during these next 15 months to acquire multiple pieces to make this a championship-contending team over the next three-to-four years. The price for moving to No. 2 or 3 was far too steep.

Ricky is a proven professional who played against the USA in the Gold Medal game in the Beijing Olympics. He is a virtuoso, a rare player who may well be unique. I have long believed that he has the chance to become one of basketball's brightest stars. You've seen the highlights — he is like an orchestra conductor with the basketball.

He will be our starting point guard here the moment he walks through our front door. We may have to wait a year, or even two, but he is worth the wait. We must be patient. This is a big step for he and his family.

With the sixth pick, we selected Jonny Flynn. I truly believe that Jonny is as much a scorer as a playmaker and will thrive playing off of Ricky. I also believe that, together, we will have one of the most dynamic defensive backcourts in the NBA over time. You will love Jonny Flynn. He, too, will be special.

And I also believe that there is a tendency in the NBA for all of us (myself included) to become too formulaic in our thinking. If you think of the Detroit Pistons backcourt during their championship run, with Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Vinnie Johnson, or the Celtics with their backcourt of Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson (and before Ainge there was Gerald Henderson), or the Lakers with Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, or the Knicks with Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe, there are many instances of championship success that is not so paint-by-the-numbers.

It can and will work.

At the 18th pick, we did not believe we could identify a player who would be worthy of that rookie scale slot and become part of our core nucleus, so in an attempt to further stockpile assets, we traded it for a future first-round pick with only modest lottery protection. This will prove to be valuable. We also traded one of our two second-round picks for a 2010 second-round pick.

Finally, we selected Wayne Ellington with the 28th pick, one of the stars off the North Carolina National Championship team. Wayne is a 6-foot-5 shooter who has improved dramatically this season. He will help us soon. And, last but not least, we used our remaining second-round pick to take Henk Norel, a teammate of Ricky's in Spain, who is long and athletic. Norel has one year remaining on his contract.

What excites me most about this team is the following:

Al Jefferson, at 24, is the oldest player of our four future building blocks. Kevin Love is 20. Jonny Flynn is 20. Ricky is 18. Wayne Ellington is 21. And let's not forget Corey Brewer is 23, Ryan Gomes is 26 and Sebastian Telfair just turned 24.

We will need a special coach who understands that we are very much in the development stage and need to be shaped and molded. I have already talked to Al Jefferson and Kevin Love about the qualities they would like to see in their new coach — what kind of person we should be seeking — and will also consult with our new players. Players respect structure and discipline. They want to know where they stand. And they want to know the coach has their back. I am eager to hear from Ricky, Jonny, Wayne and some of our existing players as we prepare our list.

These are fun times, I hope, to be a Timberwolves fan as we continue on this journey. There will be bumps and bruises along the way, but I believe we are pointed in the right direction.

As always, thank you for your interest and passion. It makes our jobs easier.

David Kahn

**********************************

It all sounds good but I'm not buying the "we can start two point guards." Unless you can make Ricky defend the Wades, James, and Bryants of the NBA, they will be hurting on defense. Those are two play makers, not scorers. I know Brewer plays good defense but you can only play two guards while the clock runs unless you want further matchup problems.

I believe Kahn is building for the future but its still going to be a number of years, maybe even more than he is anticipating. There are many other teams that are young with better potential, so he has his work cut out for him. Average age on this squad is going to be the lowest in the league in all likelihood.

[Sandmannd]

It does sound decent and sounds like he at least has a plan. That's something I haven't seen from the Wolves in a long time.

[Born2Fish]

I do like hearing that he has a plan set fourth and he will not deter from it. I can't remember McFail sending out a letter telling us why he drafted like he did. And I can't remember McFail ever saying anything out the T-Wolves trying to make a championship run. I think I might like this Kahn guy. But time will tell.

[Iron Cowboy]

It sure is refreshing to have someone with intelligence running the show. Check out this guys resume once--wow! So far he has been very impressive, I love the fact that he considers the fans important enough to have this much transperancy in his way of running things. And what a wordsmith. I dont think Mcfail could ever begin to explain his actions that well not to mention wouldnt have had the idea's in the first place. Kahn allmost gives you the feeling that not all Lawyers are bad

[rushing]

What ever happens I will be more inclined to watch a few games this season.

[Foreverfish1]

Lets just pray that Ricky Rubio does not decide to take a contract (probably an enormous one) from some different European team and then were left in the dust with a wasted pick!

[zamboni]

Lets just pray that Ricky Rubio does not decide to take a contract (probably an enormous one) from some different European team and then were left in the dust with a wasted pick!

Timberwolves in Spanish means wasted pick. Longley, Rider, Marshall, Ebi, trading Ray Allen for Marbury, etc. Yep, been some magic worked by the Wolves over the years in the first round.

[ozzie]

hey now the wolves have made some great 1st round picks in the past.....maybe they haven't produced while with the Wolves but they do pick good players.......i.e Marshall has been a quallity player for many years, Allen is a potential H.O.F, Roy is a stud as is OJ Mayo...Garnett isn't too shaby either.......It is just too bad that many of these guys just made their name with other teams!!! LOL

[CrappiesNCats]

Lets just pray that Ricky Rubio does not decide to take a contract (probably an enormous one) from some different European team and then were left in the dust with a wasted pick!

its not a wasted pick at all. he's 18. as long as he plays pro ball overseas we own his rights. having ricky play over seas next year would be an advantage to the wolves. Our current team (i know foye and miller werent great) is currently worse (even with flynn) than last year. we will be picking top 5 again.

so we pick early next year (we have 3 picks again) rubio comes over with a years more experience (in a league that is a step up from NCAA talent) and then we really have the assets in place for a long run with young players.

[UdeLakeTom]

That is too logical.

[Juan Grande]

Yeah, they pick great players and then trade them on draft night..with the exception being KG.

[Weed Shark]

I admit it is interesting. I liked Miller; he did the little stuff, great rebounder at his position and shot for a high percentage.

Foye was near 17 pts/game and was developing with experience. Wolves luck being what it is; he'll be a Chauncey Billups type, blooming after he leaves us. Wizrds should have a good year with our ex-players and ex-coach.

The Wolves looked good the month before Al got hurt.

How long will Rubio stay, if he is a Timberwolf (think Marbury)? Will he get injured in Europe, if he plays 2 years there? I hear Rubio is weak on defense and jump shooting; how old will Big Al be, before Rubio develops? Al turns 25 in January. Will Al still be a Timerwolf when Rubio develops? Rubio is an asterik*...someday/someyear down the road he might provide a boost.

[CrappiesNCats]

Rubio is a very good defender his shooting woes were more from an injured wrist than lack of ability. he improved from 3 pt range as his season went on.

[ozzie]

yeah they say Rubio is a great defender and playmaker with a average to below average shot......

[Scott K]

Quote:

The Minnesota Timberwolves have submitted a four year $16 million offer to free agent PG Ramon Sessions.

The Bucks have the opportunity to match the offer but it's pretty clear that they will not. Sessions is likely to start in Minnesota cutting deeply into Jonny Flynn's value. Sep. 4 - 12:03 pm et

Source: ESPN.com

What is it with the Wolves and PG this year? We have bigger holes to fill!

[ozzie]

they now only have 2 maybe 3 pg on the roster....not sure if Chucky Atkins is still with us or not otherwise it is Flynn and possibly Sessions......you have to have at least 2 pg on your team otherwise who on the team would bring the ball up....corey brewer??..lol

[CJH]

Kahn said they would sign/get another PG if Rubio wasn't coming. They don't have much behind Flynn and rookie PG aren't exactly known for lighting it up......

[Scott M]

ALERT THE PRESS!

The New Orleans Hornets agreed to trade reserve point guard Antonio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick to Minnesota on Wednesday in exchange for forward Darius Songaila and guard Bobby Brown.

[koonie]

2014? Pretty solid draft class coming out that year so we could get a stud in the second round.

[Scott K]

Who?

[Scott M]

Getting a longer term contract off the books I guess. Maybe LeBron will want to find a new challenge in a small market after winning a championship with Cleveland in this his last year.

[koonie]

Who?

One of those 8th graders North Carolina and Duke are recruiting.

Joking, of course.

[TR21]

koonie,

Try 5th grade!- The colleges are getting ridiculous, camping out at all these camps and AAU tourneys. A close friend of mine has a son who is starting to get brochures and mail and he is only in 6th grade and has been on the radar since last year. Of course it helps when you are 6'-1 and 170 lbs in 5th grade - just unbelievable.