Hey, it finally happened -- the Timberwolves got lucky with a draft pick!
Unfortunately, it wasn't the draft lottery, which doesn't take place until May 18. But the Wolves on Friday won a random drawing to break a three-way tie for the 23rd pick in the draft.
That's Utah's pick, which Minnesota picked up two summers ago by agreeing to take on the contracts of Rodney Carney and Calvin Booth from Philadelphia. The Jazz, which originally traded the pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Kyle Korver in 2007, finished with an identical 53-29 record as Denver and Atlanta. The drawing gave the Wolves the 23rd pick, the Hawks No. 24, and the Nuggets the 25th pick.
Minnesota, which finished 15-67, also owns Charlotte's pick, which will be No. 16, and its own, which can be no lower than fifth. The Wolves, who have never chosen higher than third, have a 19.9 percent chance of choosing first in the June 24 draft, and an 18.8 percent chance of picking second.
-- PHIL MILLER
