Wheeling and dealing the No. 5 pick: a brief history

Picks for parts

Here are some instances where a top-five draft pick was essentially traded for an established veteran. It's a move some believe the Timberwolves, with the fifth pick Thursday, might be willing to do:

2009: On the day before the draft the Wolves sent Randy Foye and Mike Miller to Washington for the No. 5 pick, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov. The Wolves used the pick on Ricky Rubio.

2007: Two days after the draft, Boston sent Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the draft rights to Jeff Green (the No. 5 pick) to Seattle for Ray Allen and the draft rights to Glen Davis (No. 35). Allen went on to become a key player on Boston's 2008 title team.

2004: Washington sent the No. 5 pick, Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse to Washington for Antawn Jamison. Dallas took Devin Harris.

2001: The day after the draft Chicago sent Elton Brand to the L.A. Clippers for the rights to Tyson Chandler (No. 2) and Brian Skinner.

1999: Jonathan Bender was taken by Toronto at No. 5, then traded to Indiana for Antonio Davis.

Kent Youngblood