Good morning. Your Minnesota Timberwolves have claimed the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, thanks to a somewhat chalky lottery. Assuming the Wolves keeps the pick -- which they should -- they will have the 2013, 2014 and 2015 top picks on their roster. This assumes Anthony Bennett isn't cut by opening night. Most of the mock drafts, including SB Nation's own version by Kevin O'Connor, are going with Karl-Anthony Towns to the Wolves. ESPN's Chad Ford says Minnesota is torn between Towns and Jahlil Okafor. DraftExpress has Minnesota at least considering Okafor as well.
Good morning. The Timberwolves are your next favorite team.
That and more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
The Lakers not only kept their pick in the lottery -- they moved up to No. 2. It looks like Okafor will be there for them, unless they opt for backcourt help (Emmanuel Mudiay, D’Angelo Russell). Philadelphia will pick No. 3, which means the good ol’ New York Basketball Knicks fell out of the top three despite sitting in the cellar most of the season. (The viewing party got sad real quick.) This is what happens in the NBA draft lottery. Trust me. This is what happens. Reports suggest the Knicks will attempt to trade the pick for a quality player.
Alright. Let’s basketball.
GAME ON: The Warriors edged the Rockets in a totally enjoyable and narrowly contested Game 1. Stephen Curry and James Harden were both electric, both teams held and lost substantial leads, and there were a number of huge plays by guys on the periphery. More, please!
Dwight Howard left the game after Josh Smith fell into his knee. He returned for a while, then sat most of the second half. Not good. Notably, though, this was his left knee; the right knee is what led to so many missed games this season.
RILEY CURRY IS THE REAL MVP: Stephen Curry’s little daughter Riley has the best podium game in the league, which is saying something.
YAY AREA: Grant Brisbee on how the Warriors fit in the new, changing Bay Area is really worth your time.
A WORD ABOUT FRED HOIBERG: Fred Hoiberg is reportedly ready to jump to the NBA coaching ranks if the Bulls offer him their job; the Wolves have actually reached out to him, and that’s a hell of an attractive spot given the lottery results. (This is a good column out of Des Moines on the Hoiberg situation.) But y’all. If The Mayor actually jumps to the NBA, how are we supposed to discuss him without pronouncing his name like Dr. Zoidberg pronounces his own name in Futurama? HOW?
A WORD ABOUT MARK JACKSON: He’s been the model of fairness and class in all the Warriors’ games he’s worked in the playoffs, including and especially Game 1. In addition, he offered a lot of good perspective borne out of his close, first-hand knowledge of most of Golden State’s players. His stuff on Festus Ezeli was great. Kudos to Mark Jackson.
BORN LOTTO PICK: Ricky O’Donnell on Stanley Johnson, who is a prototype NBA prospect.
T-SHIRTS EVERYWHERE: John Branch of the New York Times on the peer pressure of free T-shirts at NBA games.
Happy Wednesday. See you next time.
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