NBA Trade Rumors: Will Minnesota Timberwolves Shop No. 20 Pick?

Latest NBA Trade Rumor Concerns Minnesota's No. 20 Pick

The Minnesota Timberwolves weren't fortunate enough to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft at last week's lottery. They had a 25 percent chance to get it, but instead walked away with the No. 2 pick.

Because the general consensus is that this year's draft class is pretty weak, many have speculated about whether or not the Timberwolves are better off trading the No. 2 pick. Team owner Glen Taylor has acknowledged that this is a possibility.

However, at least one person thinks there's a better chance of the Timberwolves trading the No. 20 pick.

This is the word from SI.com's Sam Amick, who has it on good authority that Minnesota's second pick in the first round can definitely be had.

Writes Amick:

While it's widely known that Minnesota is open to discussing trades involving it's No. 2 pick, a source said the Timberwolves' No. 20 pick is even more available.

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I want to say this makes sense, but it does and it doesn't. There's not that much talent within the lottery, and there's even less talent outside the lottery. As such, that No. 20 pick may not be worth very much.

Then again, the possibility exists that a team in the lower third of the first will identify a player they think is a steal, and they might conclude that trading up to No. 20 pick will be worth their trouble.

For example, you can look at a player like Providence shooting guard Marshon Brooks. He's not really regarded as a lottery pick, but he is definitely starting to get noticed. Teams could very well start jockeying for position for a chance to draft him, and Minnesota's No. 20 pick could be their ticket.

Of course, the Timberwolves could just as easily take Brooks in that scenario.

Either way, they have a month to figure it out. Draft day is on June 23.

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