Brandon, one of the nine members of our Pay the Pick collective stuck with a ridiculous tab of about $40 apiece for a pair of partial season tickets (as opposed to about $10 if the Wolves had landed the No. 1 pick), isn't quite as upset about the No. 4 pick as most. At least not anymore. He checks in with some thoughts on the matter (note: Brandon is not Terrell Brandon, though he might have been the sixth-best point guard in our Burnsville rec basketball league a couple winters ago. You'll also do well to watch the language over at his blog). Sir? ---------------
I've been living in this world long enough to know that if there is one thing people want, it's deadly serious Timberwolves draft lottery
analysis. So here we go. I'll admit I didn't handle the lottery news well. My meltdown included loud sobs, a threat to hold my breath until Stern reconsidered the draft order and, regrettably, temporarily taking my wife hostage. Things got ugly in a hurry. Probably gonna get divorced.
However, after a few deep exhales ("deep exhales" is code for a combo of heavy beers and painkillers), I'm far less upset. Two reasons. (1) We don't truly know that the 4th pick will be worse than the 2nd. Holding a top-2 pick is no guarantee for anything, not this year. (2) and most importantly, on the long list of all the things the Wolves need to do to improve, moving up two lottery spots ain't at the top.
As of now, it seems likely the Wolves will end up with either Turner, Cousins or Favors. Anyone willing to bet their paycheck Turner will be the best of the group? I'm not. Cousins was a beast last season, one of the most efficient bigs in the last decade of college ball. Favors underwhelmed, but more than a few experts are claiming he's got Garnett-like potential (though hopefully with less on-court [redacted]).
I agree Turner fills a need more than the others, but after a few maneuvers from Kahn, that issue could be alleviated right quick. And let's not forget Turner could fall to 4th anyway; much stranger things have happened. Pre-draft workouts shake up the order year after year.
My Pollyanna conclusion: chin up, fellow Wolves fans. Falling two spots was a bummer, but not a knockout blow in the grand scheme of things. There are four potential studs in this draft, and we'll grab one of them.
Beyond that, there is plenty more work to do before we'll finally be able to go out there and solve that thing. Don't wear yourself out with "the sky is falling" gripes just yet. Knowing this team, you'll want to save your energy.
