Chicago combine counts down six weeks to NBA draft

They're finishing up the second day of measuring draft prospects and playing 5-on-5 games with mostly second-round prospects here in Chicago at the NBA's annual draft combine.

Here's a little of this, a little of that from my two days spent talking with potential draft picks and NBA execs and scouts.

* The Wolves did their homework, using their allwoed 18 interviews to a range of draft possibilities.

They talked to the only guy here whom they might possibly take -- Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell -- with their top pick and interviewed guys like Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein, Texas' Myles Turner, Duke's Tyus Jones (Apple Valley's own, of course) and UNLV's Christian Wood, just in case they use their two second-round picks -- 31st and 36th overall -- or the draft rights to European prospect Nemanja Bjelica to obtain another first-round pick,

They also interviewed guys like UNLV's Rashad Vaughn (Robbinsdale Cooper's own), Eastern Washington's Tyler Harvey, Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton and Kentucky's Dakari Johnson, presumably for one of those two second-round picks. Flip Saunders has practically guaranteed the team won't keep both picks come draft night in June.

* A handful of NBA scouts told me they think when it all comes down to it, Flip will pick Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns if the Wolves win the draft lottery Tuesday night, because of Towns' defense and two-way potential. My gut is sticking with Duke's Jahlil Okafor, unless time and individual workouts change Flip's mind.

* Flip, by the way, was here for the player interviews but left Friday morning after they concluded to travel to Cleveland so he could be with his ailing father and didn't attend the afternoon 5-on-5 games.

Here's one long-time NBA scout's thumbnail assessment of him: Point guard's skills in a power-forward's body, a point forward whose skill set says small forward but you might have to play him as a stretch 4 to hide his defensive liabilities. Gifted and skilled, but he's not the second coming of Nikola Mirotic, Europe's top player a year who played well for Chicago in his rookie NBA year this season. Bjelica on Thursday was named the Euroleague MVP, but probably is a good backup forward in the NBA.

And remember: The Wolves have Kevin Garnett (provided he plays next season, as expected), Adreian Payne, Anthony Bennett and Robbie Hummel at that position already.

* The Wolves brought as big a staff as they're allowed -- eight -- to Chicago, a group that included Flip, GM Milt Newton, basketball-operations director Rob Babcock, scouts Milt Barnes, Zarko Durisic and analytics/video Matt Bollero.

* Russell is the only potential Top 5 pick who came to the combine. Okafor, Towns, guard Emmanual Mudiay and European prospect Kristaps Porzingis all stayed away.

I asked him why he decided to attend while the other stayed away and he told me, "If I wasn't here, I would have probably never met you and you're a great guy." So we know he's either not that smart or a liar.

* Timberwolves announced the name of their new training facility across from Target Center: Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square.

* Glen Taylor is going to Tuesday's NBA draft lottery to represent the team but expect his wife Becky to represent on stage when the draft order is announced on national television.'