Minnesota's Mission

Forget the Lakers, Celtics, Magic, and Cavaliers. Anyone who follows the NBA can tell you what the previous four teams have been up to for the past year. But what on Earth have the Minnesota Timberwolves been doing? I would be surprised if one person who is reading this article outside the state of Minnesota could accurately name the starting lineup for the Wolves last season.

The Timberwolves story of the future began last year in the 2009 NBA Draft. With the fifth pick in the draft the Wolves selected 6'4" Ricky Rubio, a point guard from Spain. They also had the sixth pick. Many were expecting the team to select a forward or center, but instead Minnesota picked the 6' 0" point guard Jonny Flynn from Syracuse. Two point guards with the fifth and sixth picks? What could Timberwolves president David Kahn be thinking? Is he mad? No, he's a genius.

Fast forward through the Wolves dismal season that consisted of only 15 wins. Now the draft is here again! Many expect Minnesota to take either small forward Wesley Johnson or DeMarcus Cousins. They need to take Johnson and forget about the front court. The Wolves already have two more than capable starters for those positions that will be discussed later. Johnson would bring a versatile type of ballplayer to Minnesota's roster. With his long body, he could stretch the floor from behind the arc to the post. This is the type of player that an organization builds a team around.

Now to address the issue of the Wolves' front court. Kevin Love and Al Jefferson are both 6'10". Love can shoot the three ball which would also extend the floor. Put him at the power forward position. Al Jefferson lives in the post. He's a very dangerous player when he has the ball in his hands, and he also effectively moves without the basketball. He's the center for the team. Minnesota's front office needs to realize the talent that their front court possesses. Let them play together. Both have improved defensively, and are no longer liabilities on that end of the court.

Fast forward to three seasons from now. What's the lineup?

Point Guard: Jonny Flynn
Shooting Guard: Ricky Rubio
Small Forward: Wesley Johnson
Power Forward: Kevin Love
Center: Al Jefferson

This is assuming that the Wolves actually improve this year, and they will. Ricky Rubio will play for Minnesota because the Wolves have built an organization that he can thrive in. Forget his tendencies as a point guard. He's more than capable of playing the shooting guard position, and will also handle the ball from time to time. This is a team that can compete. Who knows? Maybe another lottery pick in the next two years could have me mentioning the Timberwolves instead of the Lakers, Celtics, Cavaliers, or Magic once the team is complete.

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Sixers Trade Dalembert to Kings

Samuel Dalembert has been traded to the Sacramento Kings for Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes who will join the Philadelphia 76ers. This trade further confirms my belief that the Sixers will take Derrick Favors with the second pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Philadelphia will be in need of a post presence with Dalembert gone because Elton Brand is struggling in a Sixers uniform. Look for Philadelphia to take the talented power forward with the number two pick.

However, this does change the draft scene for Sacramento. With Dalembert now a King, there is no longer a need for DeMarcus Cousins like I previously reported. In fact, a bigger need for the Kings now is at the small forward position. If the Timberwolves pass on Wesley Johnson, Sacramento will take him. However, since Minnesota is likely to add Johnson to their lineup for next year, look for the Kings to select Al-Faroq Aminu with the fifth pick in the draft. Aminu gives the Kings a viable option at the small forward position, and he is a scorer. Sacramento is in desperate need of offense to improve from last year, and Al-Faroq Aminu could be the answer.

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Mock Draft: Picks 1-5

The NBA Draft is a week away, and there is a lot of speculation about who will be going where. I will break down the first five picks of the draft, and in turn I will explain why each player is the best fit for that team.

1. John Wall, Washington Wizards

Wall is easily the most talented player in this year's draft. The Wizards are sure to draft him with the first overall pick, but questions have risen about whether or not he can play alongside Gilbert Arenas. Both players need the ball in their hands in order to perform on the court. However, I could see the Wizards either trading Arenas after his handgun incident last year, or possibly moving him to shooting guard. Let's face it, Arenas is on his way out in Washington. I wouldn't sacrifice a sure-fire superstar like John Wall in order to keep Gilbert Arenas happy. Wall will be a key piece in the rebuilding project for Washington.

2. Derrick Favors, Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia has a very difficult decision to make with the second pick in this year's draft. However, Favors will be a better fit for the Sixers than the alternative, Evan Turner, would be. Elton Brand was a failed experiment in Philadelphia, and Favors gives the Sixers an excellent alternative to the aging Brand. He will be an excellent addition to the Sixers, who are also in somewhat of a rebuilding process. Favors brings a strong, athletic frame to the post which the Sixers are in desperate need of for next year. With Favors on the team, he should also command some attention away from Andre Iguodola and Jrue Holiday so that they can make plays as well. Unlike Turner, Favors doesn't need an offense to run through him which will also be a positive aspect for Iguodola, the obvious leader of the Sixers.

3. Evan Turner, New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets were originally crushed after not only losing the top pick in the draft, but also falling to the third pick. They will be extremely lucky if Turner can fall into their lap here. Evan Turner will bring instant offense to a Nets team who notoriously struggled throughout the season last year. He will most likely play shooting guard, which will force Courtney Lee to come off of the bench. Turner, along with Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, will make for a pretty decent three player attack for New Jersey next season. The other added bonus of Turner being drafted by the Nets is the attraction of a previously dismal team to one of potential. If Turner is drafted by the Nets, he could attract some max-free agents to join him.

4. Wesley Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves

The fourth pick is another spot with a lot of speculation swirling around it. However, I think that Wesley Johnson is the best fit for the Wolves. DeMarcus Cousins is the other option, but he hasn't worked out for Minnesota yet. He also would not fit in with the Wolves because of the fact that Al Jefferson and Kevin Love are already an established front court duo. The best part about Johnson is the fact that he WANTS to play in Minnesota! Johnson played for Syracuse where close friend Jonny Flynn also played. Johnson will bring a scorer to the small forward position, and should help Minnesota improve on their fifteen win season last year.

5. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

Not much to say here. Cousins is easily the most talented center in this year's draft. He will bring an inside presence that is greatly needed to Sacramento. The Kings could also put together a pretty good core of young, talented players by drafting Cousins. Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, and Cousins could become the three main players for Sacramento's future. Just think of the possibilities if the Kings still had Kevin Martin! That would certainly be a formidable team. The Kings are also experiencing some buzz around the league with free agents, and Cousins would do nothing but help bring a big name to Sacramento.

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