There's a theme to every NBA Draft for Minnesota Timberwolves' general manager David Kahn. In 2009, it was The Draft Of The Point Guards. In 2010, The Draft Of The Small Forwards. In 2011, Kahn got a bit more abstract. He made this one, maybe his last, The Draft Of All Of The Trades.
NBA Draft Grades 2011: Timberwolves Get Fancy Beyond Derrick Williams, Fail
It didn’t go so well.
Gained: Derrick Williams, Malcolm Lee, Brad Miller, Houston's 2013 first-round pick, cash considerations.
Gave up: Jonny Flynn, No. 20 (Donatas Motiejunas).
Synopsis: Williams was likely the right pick at No. 2 -- Enes Kanter or Jonas Valanciunas could draw strong cases because of Minnesota’s center catastrophe, but Williams is a strong prospect with lots of value. (Not enough value, but lots of it.) After that? It gets muddy fast.
Minnesota had the No. 20 pick, which became Motiejunas. Plenty of good players were picked after No. 20. I’m sure good players will be on the board when Houston’s pick comes up in 2013. But the Wolves need talent now, not in 2013. Now. The Wolves traded that pick to dump Flynn and -- after all was said and done -- pick up a 2013 pick and some cash. Kahn’s going to have a lot of fun watching the next GM of the Wolves make that pick.
Minnesota had assets and the will to make stuff happen. Instead, Kahn traded a mistake he made two years ago for future assets at the helm of a 17-win team. Barf.
But hey, they got Targuy Ngombo, a guy no one in America had heard of before this week!
Grade: D.
For more on the Wolves, visit Canis Hoopus.
Hit our 2011 NBA Draft hub for full coverage of the aftermath.
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