Kahn the dealer strikes early

Mike Miller and Randy Foye

Landing the No. 5 pick for two veteran guards deepened the Wolves' options and caught the fan base's attention.

By Jerry Zgoda

Last update: June 24, 2009 - 7:25 AM

New Timberwolves basketball boss David Kahn promised he'd be hyperactive in his efforts to rebuild a franchise that can't sell a $5 ticket since it traded away superstar Kevin Garnett two summers ago.

Who knew he had been guzzling Red Bull?

Kahn today is expected to finalize his first trade since he became the team's new president of basketball operations 32 days ago.

The bold six-piece transaction that sends Mike Miller and Randy Foye to Washington for the fifth pick in Thursday's NBA draft begs a question:

With the hours quickly ticking away, just who is he after in a draft some NBA executives have called the thinnest they've seen in years?

Kahn's opening move essentially wipes clean the team's existing backcourt and makes the Wolves further committed to youth and the 2010 draft, when the Wolves will have two more first-rounders if their own pick is in the Top 10.

It provides a fourth first-round pick to a team that already has accumulated the sixth, 18th and 28th overall picks Thursday and presumably doesn't want three, let alone four rookies on next season's team.

With Foye's departure, it sends away the player who -- fairly or unfairly -- most reminds Wolves fans of Kevin McHale's failure in 14 seasons as Kahn's predecessor.

But, most notably, it has done one other remarkable thing.

Kahn and his promise for change -- about to be delivered with roster moves beginning today -- has Timberwolves fans interested again.

They are chattering away on Internet boards in numbers not seen in these Twin Cities since the last bit of breaking Brett Favre news.

A franchise that has barely registered a pulse since July 31, 2007 -- the day McHale traded away Garnett to Boston in the league's biggest deal for a single player -- now is guaranteed a prominent seat at the proverbial table after NBA Commissioner David Stern steps forth Thursday and announces the Los Angeles Clippers have made Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin the first player taken.

More than anything, Kahn now has options as he remakes a team's youthful rebuilding process apparently with more youth and, at least for now, on the cheap.

The acquisition of two top-six picks puts the Wolves in position to barter with one -- or both -- of those picks another deal, with Memphis for the draft's second choice.

That'd give Kahn his choice of precocious Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio or Hasheem Thabeet, the Connecticut center who's raw, undeveloped and also 7-3.

(You can't teach that, you know?)

But this draft offers no guarantees, other than the Clippers will take Griffin first.

So, in such a year, Kahn might very well decide it's better to stay put with two picks and completely rebuild a backcourt he just emptied -- Sebastian Telfair's presence notwithstanding -- by sending both Miller and Foye to Washington and new coach Flip Saunders.

In a draft populated by guards, the Wolves could keep both picks and take their choice of the best guards left on the board after Sacramento selects fourth.

Kahn is believed to covet Tyreke Evans, the combo guard from Memphis who so impressed with his 6-6 size and strength during a Target Center workout last week against smaller point guards.

(The Wolves also like Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn a lot).

Until a few days ago, it seemed certain Evans would still be available with the fifth pick. Now, there's a growing chance the Kings will take Evans -- meaning Rubio very well could await Kahn and the Wolves with the fifth pick.

So could Arizona State's James Harden, another projected top-four pick. Flynn or Davidson's Steph Curry, the best shooter in the draft, will be there as well.

Only one thing is certain.

And most unexpected.

"People are excited," said veteran forward Mark Madsen, easily the longest tenured Timberwolf. "That's good, isn't it?"

Miraculous might be a better word.

Recent Timberwolves stories

Deron Williams has 13 points, 13 assists, Jazz beat Blazers 118-105 - June 24, 2009

Deron Williams has 13 points, 13 assists, Jazz beat Blazers 118-105 - Deron Williams had 13 points and 13 assists, and rookie Wesley Matthews had 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting to help the Utah Jazz win their seventh straight game, 118-105 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. More