MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves learned Friday that they will pick 18th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. The three teams -- Utah, Dallas and New York -- that finished the season with 36 wins participated in a drawing to determine the selection order, and the Timberwolves have Utah's pick as a result of a past trade.
The Knicks won the drawing, and their 16th pick goes to Houston as the result of a trade. Dallas will pick 17th, followed by the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves also have the 58th overall pick in the draft, which they acquired from Oklahoma City in a trade.
With such a deep draft class this year, Minnesota has the opportunity to acquire a talented player despite trading away its lottery pick. However, Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said Friday that he's unsure how the team will use the pick. It might package it as part of a trade or select a player, he said, but the team will not sell the pick.
The 2012 NBA draft will take place in Newark, N.J. on June 28.
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