What the Minnesota Timberwolves Need to do This Offseason

Contributor Written on May 19, 2009

BOSTON - FEBRUARY 01: Al Jefferson #25 of Minnesota Timberwolves takes a shot in the first half against the Boston Celtics on February 1, 2009 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The 2009 NBA Draft Lottery is tonight at 7:30 on ESPN. The Minnesota Timberwolves have a 7.6 percent chance of winning the lottery.

Last season the Timberwolves picked third, and selected O.J. Mayo, and then traded him to the Grizzlies for Kevin Love.

The Timberwolves haven't been great since Kevin Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics. This could change in the next few years, however. The Timberwolves have been building a franchise that is starting to build more respect.

To keep moving along, the Timberwolves need to keep bringing NBA-ready rookies, and free agents into their system.

Some unrestricted free agents the Timberwolves could go after this summer are: Mike Bibby, Eddie House, Ben Gordon, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Chris Wilcox, Al Harrington, Andre Miller, Drew Gooden, and Michael Finley.

Some restricted free agents the Timberwolves could go after are: Marvin Williams, Josh Childress, Leon Powe, Glen Davis, Raymond Felton, Sean May, Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts, David Lee, and Channing Frye.

In order to sign some of these unrestricted and restricted free agents, the Timberwolves will have to spend some of their money.

The Timberwolves also should focus on signing some of their own restricted and unrestricted free agents. They should re-sign Rodney Carney, Kevin Ollie, Shelden Williams this summer for sure, and try to re-sign 2010 free agents Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Craig Smith, and Sebastian Telfair.

The Timberwolves also have the 2009 NBA draft. The top 14 selections will be decided today at the NBA draft lottery. Kevin Love will represent the Minnesota Timberwolves at the lottery.

The Timberwolves have picks 18 and 28 for sure in the draft, and could draft in the top five depending on where they get picked in the lottery. The Timberwolves also have picks 45 and 47 in the second round.

In the first round, the Timberwolves could select James Harden, Demar DeRozan, Tyreke Evans, Jordan Hill, Hasheem Thabeet, Ricky Rubio, or Blake Griffin, depending on what pick they get in the lottery.

Harden, Thabeet, Rubio, Griffin or Evans make the most sense with Timberwolves first selection.

Later in the first round they could select Earl Clark, Nick Calathes, Gerald Henderson, Chase Budinger, Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, or Darren Collison.

The 2009-2010 season could be an interesting season for the Timberwolves depending on what happens this offseason.

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written on May 19, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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