The Timberwolves have Four Chances to Win Tonight, Not One

I know that it seems like the Timberwolves have only one, maybe two chances to really win tonight at the NBA draft lottery, but if you look a little deeper they actually can win big four ways, maybe more if Kahn can be creative enough. The sure ways to win are to land the number one or two pick in the upcoming draft. John Wall is good. There are no ifs ands or buts about it. He is a game changer, and will be for many years to come. Evan Turner might not have the start potential Wall has, but he is a guy who will come in and be productive from day one. He is a guy who can play multiple positions well, and is still improving in aspects of his game. He can score from anywhere on the court, but most importantly by driving to the basket. This is the most important aspect of his scoring in my opinion because in the NBA when you can get to line and get big guys in foul trouble you are doing more to change the game then when you are hitting threes, just ask Kobe. His biggest games in the Playoffs usually come with 12, 15 even 20 free throw attempts, and the Lakers do not lose when he scores from charity stripe. Turner can also rebound, pass and is working on his ball handling.

The other ways the Wolves can win are not as obvious but I think are sure fire ways. If they do not land the first or second pick they need to hope that the Knicks or Nets land the number two pick. Why? Landing Turner is not going to be enough to land Lebron. However if they trade what will become Turner to the Wolves they can get a lot in return. A package of the number two pick and David Lee from the Knicks for Rubio and Al Jefferson would look great for the Knicks. They would then be able to get Lebron and another star (Bosh?) add in Al Jeff and a point guard. Heck, they might consider trading Wall for those two so they can have an immediately dominant front court and a young rising star at point. I personally think they would take Wall in an instant, but you never know. For the Wolves David Lee would pair nicely with Kevin Love down low and Flynn, Turner and Brewer would round a solid young core. Then with the 16th pick they could hope to get a guy like OK States James Anderson if he fell, or they could trade up a few spots and grab him to give them more offense.

As for the Nets, they think they have a chance at Lebron too. Again with the prospect of getting Rubio and Jefferson they might be willing to part with either of the first two picks. They don't have as much to offer back, but if they feel that Devin Harris' upside is not what Rubio's will be, and that adding Al Jefferson also would help, they might pull the trigger.

The dream scenario would be if the Wolves somehow broke the lottery curse and got the number one pick, and New York landed the number two pick. New York can probably get Lebron and Bosh and adding Turner would be nice, like I said. However David Lee and Bosh play the same position, and Al Jefferson is more of a scorer who I think would work well with those two since he can also stroke the 15 foot J. Rubio is the difference maker in my opinion though with the Knicks. THey still want him, and I think they would trade for him. That would give the Wolves an amazing young group of guys in Wall, Brewer, Turner, Love and Lee, with Flynn coming off the bench as a sixth man, a very effective sixth man.

Chances are the Wolves will not move up though, they never do, and they will have to settle for a guy that might be great but might not. Hopefully they can stay in the top two though, or at the very least someone who would really want Rubio would get a top pick so we can move him and build again this year.

All I know is the Wolves have two of the top 16 picks in a deep draft, they better make the most of it this year.