wolves/nba

It's up to Randy Foye to change two decades of bad NBA lottery luck.

Foye, who just finished his rookie season with the Timberwolves, will represent the team at the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night in Secaucus, N.J.

"Since I live so close I decided to go there and represent the team," said Foye, who went to high school in Newark, N.J.

He won't go empty-handed. Assistant general manager Rob Babcock brought back some holy water from Lourdes, France, obtained during a scouting trip. There will be other good luck charms, too, but Foye doesn't want to let on much more.

"A lot of people gave me things to take to the draft, but I'm going to keep that secret," Foye said.

He'll need some help, given the Wolves' lottery history. The team has been in the lottery 10 times and never has improved its position. This time the Wolves go in with a 5.3 percent chance of moving from their No. 7 position into the top three.

"It's time for a change," Foye said. "Eventually something good will happen. Me going to New Jersey, trying to get one of the top picks, maybe something good will come out of that."

Etc.

• Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said talks of potential trades will heat up a bit after the lottery. Things will continue to get busy after the league's pre-draft camp in Orlando in early June.

• McHale said the sore right quadriceps that knocked Kevin Garnett out of action at the end of the season is OK. The key, McHale said, will be a maintenance program to keep the leg healthy during next season. McHale also wants to keep Garnett's minutes to around 34 a game.

Kent Youngblood • kyoungblood@startribune.com