Gotta Love the T'wolves' lottery strategy
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- The draft is drawing closer, the free agent and trading period looms soon after that, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are still looking for someone to run their front office.
How about Kevin Love?
"It's a possibility. I've been told I'm wise beyond my years, so maybe that'll be my next job," the one-and-done former UCLA star joked.
That would be a big responsibility for a 20-year-old, though Love held up relatively well during his rookie season. He was third in the NBA with 274 offensive rebounds -- finishing behind Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol, who each had more playing time.
For now, though, Love will settle for representing the Timberwolves Tuesday night at the draft lottery drawing in New Jersey. General manager Jim Stack nominated the thin-bearded big man to go after collecting endorsements from teammates Al Jefferson and Randy Foye.
Love is hoping his presence will bring some luck to a franchise that has been short in that department since entering the league 20 years ago.
"It'd be huge," Love said, kidding that he wished he had the appropriate incentives in his contract, should this be the Wolves' year.
Minnesota has a 7.6 percent chance of getting the first choice in the draft this year, the fifth-best odds, after finishing 24-58. The Wolves will select fifth if their pingpong ball doesn't pop up, allowing them to move into the top three. They also own a pair of non-lottery first-round picks, Nos. 18 and 28.
But while some solid young players have been assembled in Minnesota, what this team doesn't need is just another rookie. The top choice in the draft would help attract interest in a product that has lost a lot of demand in recent years in a crowded market for entertainment dollars.
Pressure's on, kid.
Timberwolves representatives have brought good-luck charms to the lottery in the past, but Love dismissed that possibility by pointing to the lack of success.
"At the end of the day, it's all business and we want to get the best pick possible," he said.
The burning question is this: Who will be in charge of making that pick?
Stack and assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg are internal candidates for the vice president for basketball operations job vacated when Kevin McHale became coach last December. Portland assistant general manager Tom Penn is in the mix, as is former Indiana general manager David Kahn (another UCLA grad).
But San Antonio assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey withdrew from consideration, and former Miami general manager Randy Pfund , the former Lakers coach, told the Star Tribune he's out too.
"I don't think it's the right situation for me right now in Minnesota," Pfund said in an article posted Friday on the newspaper's Web site.
Love, speaking on a conference call with local reporters, acknowledged the uncertainty.
"It's a little weird, not knowing who we turn to next year to make the decisions," he said, adding: "This is definitely a first for me. I'm not used to that."
As for McHale's desire to continue as coach, well, that's still up in the air too.
"I think the consensus is everybody likes him and would love to play for him again," Love said.
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