That’s why I think Mike Miller definitely will be traded by draft night and why Randy Foye likely will be as well.
I’m betting Kahn is looking ahead to Foye’s next contract and saying to himself what it will cost to re-sign Foye is beyond his worth.
That’s also why I think in time either Kevin Love or Jefferson will go.
Eventually, Love’s going to get big money and Kahn doesn’t want such a big chunk of his cap consumed by two players who basically play the same position.
Expect Kahn to try to use Miller or Foye and the team’s additional draft picks to try and get another top 10 pick in addition to their No. 6 pick so they can get UConn center Hasheem Thabeet, a true shot-blocker.
I think he wants to use all this capital the Wolves accumulated to come out with two really good pieces — not four or five — out of the draft.
Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said at Wednesday’s press conference to announce coach Kevin McHale’s departure that he would have no comment on any trade rumors.
Note: Forward Mark Madsen will hold his basketball camp next week at Champlin high school. For information on registration, go to thebasketballacademy.com.
I’ve referred to Kahn as slick and Machiavellian and of the same ilk as agents and owners thus far, hardly descriptions of endearment. Stylistically, the guy is the sort of smooth operator I intuitively distrust–even his informal jibes and bon mots feel expertly calibrated. But on the nuts-and-bolts substance of his comments and strategies for the Wolves organization thus far, Kahn has been logical, insightful, well-backgrounded, and forthright. He deserves the honeymoon of an open mind from the fans, the media, and especially the players, who are likely plenty piqued at McHale’s removal.
Additionally, Givony reasserted that the Kevin Love rumors are out there, said he thought Love would be a Top 5 and maybe Top 3 pick in this draft if he’d gone back to UCLA (I agree with this), suggested this might be a good deal for the Grizzlies, and made the point that Love and Mayo have a good relationship.
But a little birdie says Mark Jackson, a former point guard for the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, among other NBA teams, will get strong consideration for the job when Kahn technically begins his search after next week’s draft…
Had Kevin McHale’s dismissal as Timberwolves coach come earlier, the Wolves would have had a great chance to bring back Flip Saunders as coach. But Saunders, who lives in Medina and would have given the job serious consideration, couldn’t wait after the Washington Wizards offered $19 million for four years.
It’s clear that new Timberwolves basketball president David Kahn is looking to move up in the June 25 NBA draft. One rumor that makes sense for the Wolves, who have the No. 6 overall pick and have glaring needs at center and point guard, is trading forward Kevin Love to the Memphis Grizzlies for their No. 2 overall pick. Memphis, however, probably wouldn’t make the deal.
But if it did, the Wolves could take UConn’s 7-2 Hasheem Thabeet. And with their No. 6 pick, they could take 6-3 guard Stephen Curry of Davidson.
He is covering all of his bases, showing interest in the Comcast SportsNet analyst’s job on Sixers games that became available when Bob Salmi’s contract was not renewed. Speculation indicates that SportsNet also has an interest in two other former Sixers: Rick Mahorn, head coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock who has worked as a radio analyst on Pistons games; and Ed Pinckney, an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
