[WolvesFutureParticipant]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19997

The Rubio Effect:  The news that Ricky Rubio has decided to join the Minnesota Timberwolves next season will impact the NBA Draft in a number of interesting ways. The Timberwolves who are holding onto the #2 overall pick in the June 23rd NBA Draft have been looking at their options in the trade market and with Rubio now in tow the Wolves now have a few different priorities.

#1 – The Wolves still want to trade down, mainly because they believe they can convert the #2, a pick they do not need, into two assets. The Wolves have been looking at deals that would move them out of the lottery completely as well as a scenarios that would be move them down a little further in the top ten.

With point guard now crossed off the list, the Wolves are now focusing on big men and perimeter scorers.

Arizona forward Derrick Williams is still a consideration if the Wolves cannot find a deal, but sources reached last night said they doubted seriously the Timberwolves would draft at the #2 spot and they have been requesting workouts with players outside of the top 3 discussion, signaling they are doing more than just due diligence.

#2 – The Jonny Flynn era is over. Flynn was a reach when the Wolves drafted him in 2009 with the #6 overall pick, but if you look at the big picture the Wolves had a pretty good feel for the Rubio scenario and Flynn was more of a Band-Aid until Rubio arrived. With Ricky on his way this season Jonny Flynn is not only on the trade market, he is expected to be traded before the NBA Draft and could be part of a deal that includes the #2 pick to return more value to Minnesota.

Flynn’s name was kicked around about at the NBA trade deadline this year, so this split was a long time in the making.

Lastly – The Wolves have other assets on the market. When you are 17-65 you cannot fall in love with players. Sources close to the situation said recently that as much as Team President David Kahn likes his core players, if drafting Derrick Williams makes his team better he would be open to trading Wesley Johnson or Michael Beasley if it returned a legit star.

The Wolves have roughly $3.7 million in available cap space, meaning they can take on more salary than they send. If The Wolves can flip Johnson or Beasley and other assets into a player like Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala or similar high dollar veteran player, they are open for business.

With Ricky Rubio now off the table, the Wolves next order of business if to determine where they go in the draft and that could set a lot of other things in motion.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

If the Sixers can trade Iguadola and the 16th pick for Beasley and the 2nd pick it would be a huge move for both teams…The Sixers get a scorer and C of the future, The Wolves get their Veteran Sf and Scorer or Big man at 16 (Brooks/Hamilton or Donatas???) The Wolves would still have Flynn and Johnson to package for help…would you be open to a Deal with Philly Wolves fans…Iguadola and the 16th pick for Beasley and the 2nd pick…Sixers could had their 2nd rounder to sweeten the deal…

[WolvesFutureParticipant]

The Wolves see Beasley and the 2nd Pick as two different assets and wouldn’t trade both for one star, but would like to turn both into stars, from the article it sounded like the likely scenario would be taking Williams at 2 and keeping him and trading Beasley, Flynn, other parts for a guy like Iguodala/Gay.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Maybe a deal like Beasley and Darko for Iguadola works, then the Wolves could draft Kanter to play C…The Sixers would be getting a scorer and C for their borderline All Star…Flynn and Johnson could be packaged after the Wolves land Kanter and Iguadola, they could get a good scoring G with those two…

[BBall4life88Participant]

 at least the Wolves have good options…they have a lot of options that will shake up the draft and I’m actually very excited as a Wolves fan. Kanter might be a good fit but it’s hard to see him going ahead of DWilliams or Kyrie

[Dr.RedParticipant]

Both Glen Taylor and David Kahn have stated they will most likely be keeping the 2nd pick, but are open to listening to offers. Taylor went as far as saying you don’t just trade away the highest pick your franchise has ever had, even if it is a weaker draft. If the right package came around, they would consider it. I don’t know where all this speculation that they are shopping their 2nd pick is coming from. Not from the horse’s mouth, that is for sure. They do want to add veteran talent, and a legit star. If they can get a legit star, they would think about trading the 2nd pick…but Igoudala is not worth the 2nd pick. Beasley and Darko for Iggy would make sense, though. I could see the Wolves trading down a couple spots to grab Kanter, while acquiring an additional asset, but I highly doubt they are gift wrapping the 2nd pick for mediocre veteran talent.

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