[Star Tribune.com ] Rockets and Wolves will observe each others workouts

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Wolves: Evaluations, negotiations take place at camp

The Wolves will join executives from all the NBA teams in Florida to check out the best of this year's draft class.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: May 27, 2008 - 12:21 AM

The Timberwolves' countdown to draft night -- 30 days and ticking -- continues today, when the NBA opens its annual predraft camp in Orlando.

The Wolves' entire scouting staff, plus coach Randy Wittman and perhaps assistant coach Jerry Sichting, will attend practice sessions and games for three days in what is the NBA's version of the NFL scouting combine.

None of the players the Wolves will consider selecting with their third overall pick in the June 26 draft is expected to participate in the daily games. Instead, such prospects as USC's O.J. Mayo, Stanford's Brook Lopez, Arizona's Jerryd Bayless, UCLA's Kevin Love and projected top picks Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley are expected to be measured and tested during individual drills.

"It's all a piece of the puzzle," Wolves General Manager Jim Stack said.

The Wolves can bring players to Target Center for workouts and interviews after the predraft camp ends this weekend. Stack said the team will bring between eight and 10 players to town, opting for "overkill" instead of risking being unprepared.

A Houston Rockets representative will attend those workouts in exchange for allowing a Wolves scout to observe player workouts in Houston. The Rockets pick 25th and will audition a collection of players the Wolves will consider for their two second-round draft picks, selections 31st and 34th overall.

With Beasley and Rose expected to become the first two players chosen, the Wolves' third pick will determine how the rest of the draft plays out. The Wolves will evaluate that list of eight to 10 players for their first-round choice in case they trade down in the draft to get a targeted player plus either players or extra draft picks.

Miami President Pat Riley already has suggested he will dangle the second overall pick because of the "leverage" it provides.

"Put a little bait in the water and see who nibbles at it," said Stack of negotiations between teams that are expected to intensify with executives from all 30 teams in the same gym this week. "Usually, you have to overpay to get something like that [a No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick]. I don't think you put Al Jefferson in play to move up a spot.

"We could decide to move back in the draft if somebody knocks our socks off with an offer. Any time you're coming off a year like we are, you look at all your options. We'll explore all options. You don't know about something until you ask."

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I can see why Minny would do this as they are six picks after us. The question is what trick does Darryl Morey have up his sleeve this time. Are we planning to buy another 2nd round pick although this draft is not as deep as last year. Or are we trying to move into lottery territory? Only time will tell...

 

This is not true because the wolves are choosing third. Therefore, eight to 10 people would correspond to guys that could be picked between third all the way through 11th (or 13th if 10 ppl are chosen to attend the Wolves workout). And that is assuming that all of those are for their first picks.

The previous radio reports which was posted by Clutch here stated that the Rockets could move up into the teens (13 to 19) in the draft. Although I agree that at this point most GMs are trying to move up...it is still quite interesting that most of the people attending the Minny workout will probably fall before the teens. Obviously, the other scenario would be buying a 2nd round pick and we want to evaluate those people.

 

You must have misunderstood my comment. In that statement I mildly suggested that the out of the 10 prospects attending not all be for the third pick that Minnesota will make. Although highly unlikely, lets assume that five are for the the third pick while five are for the 2nd round picks. There is a good chance that five out of the 10 prospects that will be evaluated by Minny for the 3rd pick will be gone before the teens. So my question in terms of the Rockets is...under these assumptions what are we there to evaluate the top five or the next five guys. Since Minny have two second round picks I wouldn't be surprised if we buy one of them (end of story). However, one can't hope to think what if Darryl does some magic and trade up into the single digits...