From a David Kahn email to season ticket holders:
Point guards Nando De Colo (France) and Travis Walton (Michigan State) are scheduled to work out this afternoon. Forward Jonas Jerebko (Italian League) is scheduled for Sunday morning and forward DeMar DeRozen (USC) is scheduled for Monday morning.
Kahn said they were working, too, to get a look at Hasheem Thabeet, Ricky Rubio and James Harden in case they can move up, but the Wolves likely would have to go see those playes and perhaps only for a visit, not a workout. He also said they’re trying to get a look at Steph Curry, but said it’s not monumental if they don’t because they know enough about him and interview him in Chicago.
Jerebko is a candidate for that 28th pick if they keep it.
There is nothing to a report that former Indiana Pacers guard Mark Jackson is the leading candidate to become the Minnesota Timberwolves’ next coach, president of basketball operations David Kahn said this morning.
“There’s no truth to it,” Kahn said. “It’s a little bit like the Al Jefferson (trade rumor) thing. I guess this is, again, I’ve fallen into my editorial comment of the day. I remember in the old days when you actually would get a call from somebody for a confirmation or denial. These days, you don’t even get that. It’s just a different world.”
Kahn on whether any players are untouchable:
“No and I’ve told Al (Jefferson) that. Maybe LeBron and Kobe are in that status. I think what I’m trying to say is even Al would say to me, ‘David, if Cleveland calls and offers us LeBron for me, David you’d better do that.’ Al would say that, right? These kids are very bright. They know that. I think what I’m trying to say though is we are not shopping and not seeking to trade Al Jefferson. He is a very important component of this team. And I would even add Kevin (Love) into that mix.”
However, the two guys highest on the Wolves’ radar aren’t there — Ricky Rubio and Stephen Curry.
The Wolves have been talking to the Grizzlies about moving up in the draft for the No. 2 pick and a shot at Rubio. However, a deal isn’t done yet and it’s unclear whether Rubio’s camp (which is being very selective about what team he plays for) wants anything to do with Minnesota.
Picks: 6, 18, 28Team Needs: Point guard, center
The Skinny: The Wolves have a glaring hole in the middle, but there just aren’t a lot of terrific big men in the draft or free agency. They could try to move up to grab Hasheem Thabeet, draft a guy in the mid-first round like B.J. Mullens, or they could try to do something via trade for someone like the Clippers’ Chris Kaman (the teams talked months ago about a Kaman-for-Mike Miller swap, but it appears to be totally dormant at the moment).
The other issue of concern is at the point. Randy Foye is more of a 2-guard than a 1, and Sebastian Telfair should be a backup, not a starter.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. Taylor’s latest blueprint for the future is into its second revision already, facing further delays unless David Kahn, the team’s new president, gets the Wolves back on schedule. At least the team isn’t coping with the cost overruns of recent seasons; bad contracts already have been cleared, replaced by desirable expiring deals (Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal). Taylor hired Kahn pretty late in the predraft period, though. And with Kevin McHale getting cut loose Wednesday, there is no coach, and thus no established style to shape the team’s three first-rounders (Nos. 6, 18 and 28).
Admittedly, the Wolves have holes at several spots, so the first priority might be grabbing assets while worrying later about their allocation. Kahn, though some think he wants to make a bold stroke on draft night, publicly is preaching patience. But there isn’t much left, outside among fans or even inside; add another five-year plan onto Al Jefferson’s first five NBA seasons and he could be feeling like Kevin Garnett in search of a winner.
Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love, selects Brandon Jennings with the sixth pick: “I admire his passing, and I’ve been on the good—and bad—end of ones that resulted in dunks. Plus, he’s a lefty, which makes him unorthodox and a tough matchup.”
There’s a couple reasons why Timberwolves should welcome Jackson. His often hilarious banter with NBA luminary Van Gundy revealed a first-rate basketball mind. And his days as a premier NBA point guard–during which he functioned, in effect, as an on-floor extension of the coach–should command a certain level of respect among his players.
But there’s also a reason for skepticism: in a word, inexperience. Jackson has never coached an NBA squad, not even as an assistant. And boasting a high basketball IQ as a player doesn’t always translate to coaching excellence.
