Predicting the Minnesota Timberwolves' Draft Options Tonight

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

It's an exciting time to be a Minnesota Timberwolves fan.

Ever since new GM David Kahn took the job 33 days ago, he's already won over many of the hearts and minds of a dying and pessimistic fan base simply by doing two things:

1. He got rid of his predecessor and current interm coach Kevin McHale who 99 percent of Wolves fans would tell you was long overdue.

2. He actually added picks (Washington's No. 5 overall) instead of foolishly trading them away as McHale had penchant for.

Kahn has said repeatedly that he will not trade both the No. 5 and No. 6 in any deal (the same deal) in order to move up to No. 2 as rumored in order to take someone like Hasheem Thabeet out of UCONN or Spain's Ricky Rubio.

That should ease some fans, like me.

On Rubio

While I do not want Rubio, certainly at No. 2 because I am skeptical of European players' games translating to the NBA, especially at his young age (18) with understandable minimal experience and paltry stats (10.0 PPG 6.1 apg), it does make more sense to take a risk such as this when you now have two lottery picks to play with as the Wolves now do.

Of course that second pick No. 6 better work out to the tune of an All-Star just in case Rubio doesn't pan out as expected. I also don't like Rubio because I'm afraid his Spanish team won't let him out of his contract and we could be seeing a Fran Vazquez situation all over again.

That is my worst fear, throwing away a lottery pick just as the Magic did in 2005. Mix this possibility in with the fact that the Wolves have never had foreign success outside of Rasho Nesterovic (if you can call that "success") and I don't like their chances at making this one work.

On Thabeet

I don't want Thabeet since I think he, much like this whole draft will be hit or miss. He'll either be Dikembe Mutombo or Saynor Sene just as Chad Ford said on Mike and Mike on Tuesday. Further, I think he could be a DeSagna Diop or Yinka Dare and we all know how that turned out. Manute Bol anyone?

This draft has the makings of 2000 (one of the worst in my life) or 2001 all over again. Kahn wil either come out looking like a genius and will be praised by the league and media for setting his new team up for instant success (and a shot at a No. 7-8 seed) or it will be total failure and the fans will stay away in droves again. I see no middle.

So what are the Wolves to do? Here's what I'd like to see

No. 5 Wolves draft SG James Harden out of Arizona State and No. 6 Wolves draft PG Stephen Curry out of Davidson.

As someone who has seen Curry play numerous times, sometimes you can just tell when a player "has it" and he does. If its gaudy PPG don't convince you (an NCAA-leading 28.2) then his bloodline should as his father, Dell, not only made it to the NBA, but had a long and fairly successful career as a journeyman three-point specialist and worthy veteran.

Curry: Best Case Scenario

Stephon Marbury (without the baggage, should make Wolves fans happy about a chance for this mulligan).

Worst Case Scenario

Adam Morrison, Gonzaga: Again he's got the bloodline and the fact he's black prove to be better indicators of success. My only worry is the level of competition that he faced at tiny Davidson and how that might translate.

If the Wolves are nervous by his desire to play elsewhere evidenced by his skipping a Target Center workout, no one wants to play in Minnesota. Everyone wants to play in New York where they can be marketed and live the high life in the big City. Curry is no exception.

Maybe they could bring a little New York to him by hiring former Knick great, and New York native, Mark Jackson to be their Head Coach as is rumored. Curry would instantly learn from one of the best and could prove to be a fan favorite as one of the young and up-coming faces like when Avery Johnson was.

Wherever Curry ends up, he's my pick for Rookie of the Year.

James Harden

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