The kids are entering the draft at warp speed — so fast that this “complete list” on ESPN.com of early entrants doesn’t even include Derrick Rose as a sure thing (even though he is). With the NBA season winding down and the ping pong ball allotment still to be determined (the Wolves are third-worst right now, meaning they’re third-best in lottery chances, but another win would raise a coin flip possibility with Memphis), we thought it would be a fine time to take a look at the best- and worst-case scenarios, as well as some others, for the Wolves.

Best: Win the lottery, take Derrick Rose. That simple. They need a point guard. He’s a difference-maker. Case closed.

Second-best: Get the No. 2 pick, get either Rose or Michael Beasley. The two best players. Can’t argue with that.

Third-best: Kevin Love enters the draft and, if the Wolves are picking third or lower, they take him. This guy has an intangible we can’t put our finger on. It’s certainly not “defense,” and the prospect of Love and Al Jefferson making up a squishy-soft middle is a little disheartening. But he works hard. He’s going to be stronger. And he’s a big man who can pass and make teammates better. He should be coveted.

Fourth-best: Pick third or fourth, take Brook Lopez. He fills a need; we’re just not a big fan. Maybe we’re wrong.

Second-worst: Tumble in the draft, take Danilo Gallinari. Yes, they call him the Italian LeBron James. We just have a bad feeling that any foreign player the Wolves touch turns to mush.

Worst: Pick third or worse and take Jerryd Bayless, O.J. Mayo or Eric Gordon. Three midsize combo or shooting guards. All bring the potential for ego, inconsistency, selfish play or all three at once. Stay far away.

By the way: Dig that picture of Larry Johnson.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.