David Kahn came to an Target Center news conference this afternoon sleep deprived and dress casually in  sandals (no socks) and spoke about yesterday’s deal that sent Mike Miller and Randy Foye to Washington for the fifth pick tomorrow night and three players.

Some highlights:

* He said the team definitely WILL NOT trade 5 and 6 for 2. “I want to be really clear on this,” he said. “We will not do that under no circumstances.”

Kahn denied that the Wolves have agreed to sell the No. 28 pick to the New York Knicks for $3 million, insisting that no decisions had been made on any of their selections. They also own the No. 18 pick.

# Kahn said he expects to hire a coach in July but called it “highly unlikely” that he would have someone in place for the start of the summer league season in Las Vegas on July 12.

# Kahn, on Foye getting a fresh start with the Wizards: “I just felt that he’ll just be better at the next place. Because here he went through kind of, what position is he? He had some injuries. He needs to find his groove, and I think he will.”

“In our case, not only do we get the pick, but very quickly I do believe that all three of these players have an opportunity to help us next season and perhaps beyond. Etan gives us somebody who in the past has started some games at center, very physical, very tough and I think will have a significant place on this team next season depending on what other moves we are made only this week but throughout summer.

“I believe Darius could help us not just this season, but if he chooses to stay – he has an option for the second year. Darius can help us. He’s what’s known in the nomenclature as a spacing four, which is a power forward that steps out and shoots. Which with our team and Al Jefferson is a very effective quality.

“And lastly, I’m very intrigued by Pecherov. He was the 18th pick taken in the 2006 Draft. He’s a seven-foot forward. He’s really not a center or low post guy. He’s very young like everybody we deal with these days. We’ll have an opportunity to see him this summer and in training camp before we make a determination if we want to pick up his option for 2010-11.”

Kahn said Wednesday that he was in talks with Memphis at No. 2 and other teams ahead of the Wolves about possibly moving up in the draft, perhaps to grab Spanish guard Ricky Rubio, Memphis guard Tyreke Evans or UConn center Hasheem Thabeet.

These are the Timberwolves, however, so of course all the excitement generated comes with a caveat. Most analysts and experts view the 2009 draft as one of the weakest in recent memory, with even the hottest prospects showing warts.

Kahn doesn’t buy that evaluation.

“I think some of the players, especially at the top of the draft in the vicinity we’re at, could be really helpful,” he said.
Last week, Kahn’s remark included a hint that his willingness to dump players for whom McHale had a fondness might have been a problem. Foye was one such player.

On Wednesday, Kahn shook off the notion that this move would have been a blow to a still-employed McHale.

“I thought he was very accepting of the notion that as long as it was a fair deal and we were getting value back, you can’t become too attached to players,” Kahn said Wednesday.