Posted on June 23, 2010, 12:45 CT
By Jon Krawczynski
Associated Press
Team president David Kahn maintained all along that the Wolves would be just fine with the fourth overall draft pick, and he appears to be growing even more confident in the position just two days before the NBA draft.
"Whoever it is at 4, we're going to have a really fine player joining our roster," Kahn said Tuesday. "I'm really excited about the player we'll be getting, no matter who it is. I don't think I can really screw this one up."
With that said, it appears the Timberwolves are intent on staying at No. 4 after finding out that Philadelphia is not interested in trading the second overall pick and the chance to take Turner. Kahn called it "highly, highly, highly, highly unlikely" that the Wolves would deal the first of their three first-round picks to move up or down in the draft.
"The idea that we're thinking we have to move up to three is ridiculous," Kahn said. "We like four a lot. It'll be fine, no matter how it plays out. I can assure you, with almost near certainty, that we will not try to move up in these last few days of the draft into the top three."
Like most draft followers, Kahn believes Washington will take the Kentucky point guard Wall with the first pick and Turner will go to Philly at No. 2. Depending on what New Jersey does at 3, the Wolves will have a shot at Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson, Georgia Tech forward Derrick Favors or Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins.
After their first pick, however, anything could happen. The Timberwolves also have pick Nos. 16 and 23 in the first round of Thursday night's draft, and Kahn said there could be room for movement there.
"We have a number of things on our board like every team," Kahn said. "Every team is talking about a number of scenarios which may, or may not, pan out."
One deal that definitely will not pan out is sending point guard Jonny Flynn, the sixth overall pick in last year's draft, to Indiana for the 10th pick. "There's no way we would do that under any circumstances," Kahn said. "I think that Jonny has a chance to be a very special player in this league."
The Timberwolves held their final pre-draft workouts Tuesday, hosting Nevada forward Luke Babbitt, MichiganState guard Raymar Morgan, Clemson forward Trevor Booker, Washington swingman Quincy Pondexter and Western Kentucky forward Jeremy Evans. Now the real fun begins, as trade proposals are bandied about.
"Today and tomorrow are the most intense days," Kahn said.
