YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

From Timberwolves.com:

The NBA today announced that the Minnesota Timberwolves won
the tiebreaker over the Memphis Grizzlies and are currently slotted
into the No. 5 selection for the 2009 NBA Draft. The final order of this
year’s Draft will be determined at the NBA Draft Lottery, which will be
held on Tuesday, May 19 at the NBA Entertainment studio in Secaucus,
N.J. The 2009 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 25 at the WaMu
Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The Timberwolves and Grizzlies finished the 2008-09 regular season
with identical 24-58 records, and the Wolves moved into the fifth slot
after a random drawing was held earlier today.

Along with their first-round selection, the Timberwolves will also have
the first-round picks belonging to Miami (18th) and Boston (28th). The
Timberwolves also own the two lowest of Indiana, Miami and Philadelphia’s
second-round picks, while Minnesota’s own second-round pick will be conveyed
to Detroit. The order of selection in the second round cannot be determined until
after the Draft Lottery.

Below are the teams and their number of chances in 2009 NBA Draft Lottery.
The first three picks in the NBA Draft will be determined by the lottery and
the remainder of the “lottery teams” will select in positions 4 through 14
in inverse order of their consolidated standings at the end of the regular season.

TEAM RECORD LOTTERY CHANCES*
Sacramento 17-65 250
Washington 19-63 178
L.A. Clippers 19-63 177
Oklahoma City 23-59 119
Minnesota 24-58 76
Memphis 24-58 75
Golden State 29-53 43
New York 32-50 28
Toronto 33-49 17
Milwaukee 34-48 10
New Jersey 34-48 9
Charlotte 35-47 7
Indiana 36-46 6
Phoenix 46-36 5
* Lottery chances are out of 1,000

I don’t care what anyone says, this is huge.  Granted, our “luck” only
increases to 7.6% (from 7.5%) to win the lottery, but it means we at least
pick before Memphis despite the fact that both teams finished with the same
record.  Depending on who is in the draft, this could get us a better player
than even drafting at #6. 

Here’s who I like:

1-2 TIE)  Blake Griffin & Ricky Rubio:  I think the Wolves need Rubio more,
but if we can’t get him for whatever reason, I’d love the consensus best player in
the draft (Griffin.)
3)  Tyreke Evans:  An actual PG with size.  Some think he’ll play SG
in the NBA, but either way, a dynamic guard at 6’6″ is enticing.
4)  Demar DeRozan:  His athleticism and potential is off the charts.
Could be a Josh Smith type player when all is said and done.
5)  James Harden:  Sneaky athletic.  Reminds me of Paul Pierce.
Either way, could be a legitimate NBA two guard, which is something the Wolves
have sorely lacked.

At least we won the blind draw.  Baby steps.