Mistake or perfect selection?
I don't think there's any debate that Wesley Johnson is a great talent, but some question whether or not he was the best option for the Timberwolves with the fourth pick.
Taking Johnson was the right move for Minnesota. He may not be the best scoring option, but he'll be an excellent player on the wing.
I've seen a lot of video coverage on Wesley, he's a great player. His combine interview showed that he is intelligent, and has a great love for the game of basketball.
Then again, who plays basketball that hates the sport?
Johnson will also have the chance to reunite with one of his best friends from college, Jonny Flynn.
With the Timberwolves four other selections, they took Luke Babbitt, Trevor Booker, Paulo Prestes, and Hamady Ndiaye.
Ndiaye will be sent to the Wizards.
Babbitt will be sent to the Blazers with Ryan Gomes in exchange for Martell Webster.
Stupid.
Webster is certainly not a bad player, but he's not going to make the Wolves a better team geared towards the future.
Trevor Booker was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Lazar Hayward from Marquette.
Paulo Prestes, from Spain, may have to stay overseas for a while, but it seems as though the Timberwolves don't mind having players from Spain stay overseas.
Something about a Rubio guy, I hear?
I'm talking about the incredibly talented Ricky Rubio.
Many have questioned the choices that David Kahn made during the draft.
The only thing I really think is a mistake is trading a top 20 draft pick and a starter for a guy that was sent down to the d-league, despite the fact that he was the sixth pick in the 2005 draft.
Webster was often a solid spark off the bench for the Blazers. He also started 49 out of 82 games for Portland.
This definitely goes to show that Martell can start if the Timberwolves need him to, and put up some good numbers every now and then.
Now let's take a look at the Timberwolves current roster.
PG- Jonny Flynn
PG- Ramon Sessions
SG- Corey Brewer
SG- Wayne Ellington
SF- Ryan Gomes
SF- Sasha Pavlovic
SF- Damien Wilkins
PF- Brian Cardinal
PF- Nathan Jawai
PF- Kevin Love
PF- Oleksiy Pecherov
C- Ryan Hollins
C- Al Jefferson
C- Darko Milicic
C- Greg Stiemsma
Free Agents:
Nathan Jawai (restricted)
Brian Cardinal
Darko Milicic
Sasha Pavlovic
Oleksiy Pecherov
Damien Wilkins
I do not see the Wolves bringing back any of these guys except for Darko Milicic.
Brian Cardinal is a good mentor and locker room guy, but he's just going to go to waste on Minnesota's roster.
Sasha Pavlovic, famous for his days with the Cavaliers, is not that talented. Yes, he will catch on with another team, but that team won't be the Timberwolves.
Oleksiy Pecherov can occasionally knock down a long jump-shot, but he's not a guy that Minnesota needs. I don't care if they let him go.
Nathan Jawai rarely played this season. He has a decent inside game, which will lead another team to signing him to a cheap deal.
Other plays that will go:
Ryan Gomes
Al Jefferson
Ryan Gomes is an obvious one because the trade to the Blazers will be finalized over the course of the next couple weeks. I'll miss you, man.
Al Jefferson has been the subject of trade rumors for a week now. He's as good as gone right now.
Players that will make the roster:
Jonny Flynn
Ramon Sessions
Wayne Ellington
Corey Brewer
Wesley Johnson (draft pick)
Lazar Hayward (draft pick)
Martell Webster
Kevin Love
Ryan Hollins
Darko Milicic
Ramon Sessions could easily be traded to a team that will give him a chance to start. Right now, Sessions is unhappy coming off the bench for the Wolves.
I think that Lazar Hayward will stay on the Timberwolves main roster, but there's a chance he will be sent down to the D-league in order to progress his game further.
Trade:
Al Jefferson and to the Indiana Pacers for Troy Murphy and cash
Troy Murphy is set to make a little over $11 million this year, which is not much less than Al Jefferson, but his contract is set to expire after this upcoming season.
If the Pacers can or are willing to throw in some cash, I see the deal getting done. Minnesota definitely wants to get as much money as they can in order to sign mutiple free agents.
Free Agency:
Rudy Gay 's name has been mentioned many times as a piece that the Minnesota Timberwolves would love to sign.
It's been reported that Gay will not leave the Grizzlies unless the Wolves are willing to give him a huge contract.
What does Minnesota have to lose?
They could over-pay Gay and still have money for another free agent.
Tyson Chandler is definitely not the star that many expected him to be, but he's still a very solid player.
It's not a guarantee that he would start, but there's a very good chance that the Wolves will keep Kevin Love on the bench.
Michael Redd missed the majority of last season due to a very serious knee injury. When healthy, Redd can be a very good player.
I would not give him a big deal if I were Minnesota. You never know if he's going to be the same player he once was.
David Lee is a very underrated player that deserves a lot more respect than what he's given.
Lee is a monster on the boards, and is one of the best post-players in the NBA today. I would definitely give him a fairly big deal to start at center.
LeBron James is a definite sign for the Timberwolves. I crack myself up on that one! Sorry, but LeBron James will not be going up north.
D-league players:
Lazar Haywayrd , like I mentioned earlier, should be sent to the D-league in order to get better. He will just go to waste on the Wolves bench.
Timberwolves projected starting five:
PG- Jonny Flynn
SG- Rudy Gay
SF- Wesley Johnson
PF- Troy Murphy
C- David Lee
Bench players:
PG- Ramon Sessions
SG/SF- Corey Brewer
SG- Wayne Ellington
SF- Martell Webster
PF- Kevin Love
C- Darko Milicic
C- Ryan Hollins
I won't lie, I had a tough time determining who will stay, who will go, who will sign, and who will start or be on the bench.
I know that many people will disagree. I'm prepared. This is just my very early opinion.
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