Wolves land No. 13 pick in NBA Draft
Once again, the ping-pong balls weren't kind to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But they weren't overly rude, either.
Entering the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery as the No. 13 picker with an overwhelming chance to stay there, the Timberwolves remained in their slotted position for a second consecutive year. Minnesota has never moved up in the lottery and now has stayed in place eight times. On eight other occasions, it's dropped.
The Timberwolves came into last year's lottery slotted ninth and retained that pick.
This year, they had six chances in 1,000 of landing the 2014 draft's No. 1 pick and a 2.18-percent chance at a top-three selection.
Perhaps the best news for Minnesota is it gets to keep its first-round pick. Had the Timberwolves dropped to 14th, Minnesota's top-13 protected pick would have gone to Phoenix, a scenario brought about by the 2012 Wesley Johnson trade.
They need wing help on both ends of the floor, particularly in the form of a player who can either create his own shot, provide a defensive boost or, in a best-case scenario, do both. In mock drafts updated since last week's NBA Draft Combine, Draft Express and Sporting News have the Timberwolves picking Kentucky forward James Young, CBS' Zach Harper likes Michigan State's Adreian Payne, ESPN's Chad Ford lists UCLA guard Zach LaVine, and nbadraft.net tabs Minnesota to snag Croatian forward Dario Saric.
Previous No. 13 overall picks include Richard Jefferson (2001), Corey Maggette (1999), Kobe Bryant (1996), Jalen Rose (1994) and Karl Malone (1985). The last five players taken at 13 were Kelly Olynyk (Dallas for Boston, 2013), Kendal Marshall (Phoenix, 2012), Markieff Morris (Phoenix, 2011), Ed Davis (Toronto, 2010) and Tyler Hansbrough (Indiana, 2010).
The Timberwolves reportedly burned incense at their Target Center offices in hopes of garnering some good luck. General manager Milt Newton was the team's in-person representative at the Disney/ABC Times Square Studios in New York City.
The lottery also added to the conversation surrounding Kevin Love's future with the Timberwolves. Both considered potential trading partners for the All-Star should they have snagged a top-three pick to dangle before Minnesota, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers each moved down a spot to sixth and seventh, respectively.
Cleveland, meanwhile, landed the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in the past four seasons. The Cavaliers made a run at trading for Love before last year's draft, but the Timberwolves nixed that notion.
Cleveland had 17 chances in 1,000 of picking first. Milwaukee, a 25 percent favorite to win, will pick second, while Philadelphia selects third overall.
Conversations with coaching candidates should progress now, too. It's going to be difficult to find a pre-draft trading partner Love's interested in that has a top-five selection to give up in exchange, and any prospective head man now knows for sure he'll have a low lottery pick and not a top-tier rookie at his disposal should he take the Timberwolves job.
But if Love is still around when training camp begins this fall, whoever's in charge can expect plenty of questions about the All-Star's future all season long.
Love's contract is up after this season, and reports say he plans to opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. Minnesota can technically trade him wherever it desires, but it's unlikely a trading partner would agree to terms without assurances from Love's camp he's committed to signing there long term.
The 2014 NBA Draft is Thursday, June 26.
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