Wolves Deal Randy Foye for Wizards Draft Pick
By: David Kay
The first major draft-impacting trade was made Tuesday evening with Minnesota adding a second pick in the top six. The Timberwolves, who already own the sixth overall pick, acquired the #5 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, Etan Thomas, Darius Songalia, and Oleksiy Pecherov from the Wizards in exchange for Randy Foye and Mike Miller. Allow me to toot my horn on this one; this was very similar to a trade I proposed a few weeks ago when I was a guest on the June 9th episode of “The Deposit.”
Why this makes sense for Washington:
Since the Wiz lost out on the lottery and ended up with the fifth pick, there have been rumors about Washington wanting to deal the pick to land a veteran or two because management feels they are a true Eastern Conference title contender when healthy. In my opinion, this trade doesn’t equate to the Wizards competing with the upper-tier of the East, but should help get them back into the post-season (assuming they can stay healthy.)
Foye never settled into the point guard role in ‘Sota and should be better served playing the two in the District alongside Gilbert Arenas. Shots will be hard to come by for Foye who will likely be the fourth option behind Agent Zero, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison, but he should help them become a very dangerous offense. Mike Miller had an abysmal year with the T-Wolves last season, but if he can bounce back, could be a nice acquisition. If not, he is the final year of his contract and will come off the books next summer.
Why this makes sense for Minnesota:
The T-Wolves now hold two of the top six picks in the draft and four first rounders (#5, #6, #18, and #28.) Thomas is in the final year of his deal while Pecherov has a team option and Songaila a player option for next season, meaning the salary cap situation will probably be a wash. The three players should add some temporary, but needed depth up-front to back-up Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.
Why this really makes sense is because of what it could lead to for the T-Wolves…
How this affects the 2009 NBA Draft:
I have to believe that despite an ESPN report, Minnesota will try to package either #5 or #6 with one or two of their other picks to move up to #2 (currently owned by Memphis) so they can select Ricky Rubio. If Rubio isn’t taken at two, then Oklahoma City’s pick at number three should be the target. This should change the top of the draft quite a bit. The Wolves now have a huge hole in their backcourt and have to find two starters out of their top two picks. If they stick at #5 and #6, expect them to target Tyreke Evans and either Jonny Flynn or Stephen Curry.
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I have high hopes… but I’m already smashing the light bulbs and sharpening the razor blades for the moment when David Stern announces one of the following statements:
“With the 5th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the MN T-Wolves select Hasheem Thabeet; With the 6th pick the T-Wolves select Stephen Curry; With the 18th pick the T-Wolves select Chase Budinger”
or
“The Timberwolves have traded the #5 pick to the Boston Celtics for cash considerations and a future 2nd round pick and have traded the #6 pick to the Portland Trailblazers for free”
LOL!!! You describe Kahn like he should be someone wearing a tin foil hat, who’s who’s too dumb to remember when its time to breath.
Give robot-Kahn some credit, he’s at least making a spalsh and seemingly taking risk to try and make this team better.
But yes, the move was only the first half. Now he has to actually pick the right players.
Wait…Kahn might be the NBA draft equivalent of Ted Thompson. I certainly hope not for your sake, Peter. Don’t start sharpening razor blades, please dear. Put them down…push them away slowly….
No one will ever be as bad as Ted Thompson. Kahn won’t be looking to trade to acquire more picks!