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May 15, 2008 10:23 pm US/Central
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Wolves Eye Impact Player In NBA Draft
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
The Minnesota Timberwolves don't have much money to spend in free agency this summer and few desirable contracts to use as trade bait to improve the team.
So the way assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg sees it, that leaves only one avenue to make significant improvement on last year's 22-60 record, the third worst in the NBA.
"We need to get a player in the draft that's going to come in here and make an impact right away," Hoiberg said Thursday.
That starts with the annual NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday in New York. Hoiberg is headed to the Big Apple to represent the Timberwolves at the luck-fest. With the third-worst record, behind Miami and Seattle, the Wolves have a 13.8 percent chance at landing the top pick in the draft.
The odds are even better -- 14.24 percent -- at Minnesota getting the second pick, and Hoiberg and the rest of the team hope that they get into the top two for a chance at Kansas State forward Michael Beasley or Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, widely considered the two top players in the draft.
"This is a big year to move up. There are a couple players I think could really help accelerate the rebuilding process," Hoiberg said. "But even if we don't get one of the top two picks, I still think there are some players that would fit well with the group of guys that we have."
The Timberwolves have not had much luck in the lottery in the franchise's history, so the odds of them moving up seem to be even longer than most teams. The furthest they could fall would be pick No. 6, with the greatest odds having them dropping down to slot No. 5.
Even if the worst happens -- as often does when the Timberwolves find themselves in the lottery -- Hoiberg still believes they can find a player who is ready to contribute significantly right away.
"I think there is a clear-cut top two, but I still think there are some good players after that," Hoiberg said. "I would say you can go to seven players and you can still get an impact player."
The needs are many for the Timberwolves, who are using big man Al Jefferson as the cornerstone of the rebuilding project. After being acquired in the 7-for-1 deal with Boston for Kevin Garnett, Jefferson blossomed in his first year as a featured player, averaging 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds.
Minnesota would love to find a reliable center to take some attention away from Jefferson on the low block or a true point guard to pair with Randy Foye in the backcourt.
Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless, Stanford center Brook Lopez and power forwards Kevin Love of UCLA and Anthony Randolph of LSU all could be possibilities for the Wolves if they miss out on Beasley and Rose.
"There's a couple of big players that we could put in with this team that could help us out right away," Hoiberg said. "There's some playmakers after the top two guys that could come in and help take some pressure off in the fourth quarter. There's a couple of international guys that are intriguing."
Hoiberg is hoping that a good-luck charm will do the trick. He has befriended 12-year-old Brooklyn Park native Matthew Gamber, who has had a liver transplant among more than 100 surgeries in his short life.
Gamber is an avid Wolves fan and brings a stuffed bear dressed in Wolves garb with him to the hospital for each procedure. He gave it to Hoiberg on Thursday to take with him to New York.
"He follows our team like nobody else," Hoiberg said. "I'm excited to take that out there. Hopefully it will land us one of the top two picks."
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)