Though the Minnesota Timberwolves own the first overall pick in tonight’s NBA Draft, the team may not be done right then and there. According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, GM Flip Saunders may be looking to acquire another first round pick.
I'm not sure if this is out there, but I'm hearing that the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to acquire an additional first-round pick.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 25, 2015
ESPN’s Darren Wolfson is reporting that Minnesota has spoken with Houston about acquiring the No. 18 pick and that the Rockets like point guard Ricky Rubio, but nothing is developing on that front yet.
Hear Houston is having lots of discussions, including moving up. Yes, they've talked to the #Twolves. They like Rubio. Hard to see a match.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 25, 2015
It’s also hard to see Houston wanting Rubio in head coach Kevin McHale’s fast-paced system, particularly since he is a pass-first point guard who has never been a consistent shooter/scorer. Moreover, the team already has a point man in restricted free agent to-be Patrick Beverley, and he too is inconsistent in the scoring department and not a particularly strong passer.
Thus, it’s hard to see a deal for Rubio happening since he isn’t at all ideal for a run-and-gun game. This is also probably why the Wolves haven’t talked to the Dallas Mavericks, who have a glaring hole at the point and own the No. 21 pick.
Semi-interestingly, hear no dialogue yet between the #Twolves and Mavs, who have the 21st pick. But with Houston at 18, again, yes.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 25, 2015
However, it should be noted that Dallas is likely about to lose center Tyson Chandler to free agency, and Minnesota has two centers in Nikola Pekovic and Gorgui Dieng that may become expendable tonight if Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor is selected by Minnesota with the first pick.
Thus, either could be moved to Dallas in exchange for a draft pick since both have talent as well as starting experience.
This is all pure speculation at this point and the draft is still a few hours away, but Campus Sports will update any and all draft rumors as the countdown to the 2015 NBA Draft continues.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
