BUILDING BLOCKS

Kevin Love: The double-double stats don't tell the whole story. Delivering an All-Star season on a 13-victory team does. Still, his limitations -- lack of length, athleticism and thus an inability to create his own shot -- probably mean he's a No. 2 guy on a title contender. As productive as he is, he's not a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge or Blake Griffin, talents you can build everything around.

Michael Beasley:

David Kahn calls him "ridiculously talented." He's the best bet to be that No. 1 guy because he's a 6-8 mismatch who can play all over the floor and create his own shot. But will he mature enough into a serious professional who can focus all that talent?

INVESTMENTS

Ricky Rubio: Kahn promises he will play here next season (provided there is one). If he does, the Wolves again will have to wait for a young player's development. He hasn't fulfilled his youthful promise in European play, but Kahn predicts "he'll flourish" in the NBA.

Wes Johnson: Kahn contends the rookie wing has "the tools, the body, the shooting, the athleticism" to become a third piece on a title contender.

QUESTIONABLE FUTURES

Corey Brewer: The mostly likely candidate to be gone by trade deadline, partly because Kahn and Rambis consider themselves loaded at wing and partly because he'll be a restricted free agent this summer.

Jonny Flynn: Too early to call him a bust, but his injury-filled second season is certainly not what Kahn envisioned when he fell in love with Flynn's charisma and leadership before the 2009 draft. "I still believe to this day that Jonny Flynn will be a very good player in our league," Kahn said. "But perhaps we all need to confront the idea that it won't be here and that will be confronted at the appropriate time."

Darko Milicic: Rambis and Kahn love his size, shot-blocking ability and potential, but so far he's been too careless with the ball and too soft to envision him as the anchor in the middle on a title contender.

FUTURE ASSETS

2011 draft picks: The Wolves potentially have three: Their own and protected picks from Memphis (top 14 protected) and Utah (top 16 protected).

Cap space: The "trade exception" obtained in the Al Jefferson deal is meaningful only because it gives the Wolves the ability to absorb a big contract if a new labor agreement brings some sort of "hard" salary cap. It's the same premise the Wolves used to acquire Beasley for two second-round picks.