2011 NBA Draft: Should the Timberwolves Deal No. 2 Pick for Josh Smith?
Latest NBA Trade Rumor Has the Hawks Making a Play for No. 2 Pick
For several days now, the Internet has been abuzz with trade rumors involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Supposedly, general manager David Kahn offered the pick to just about every team in the league, hoping to land big-name players like Andrew Bynum and Steve Nash.
It was all for naught. And with the draft just a couple hours away, it's looking like Kahn will have no choice but to use the No. 2 pick.
Enter the Atlanta Hawks. According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks have offered the Timberwolves power forward Josh Smith in exchange for the No. 2 pick. Apparently, they are quite enamored with Turkish center Enes Kanter.
Finally, a good deal. Therefore, it kinda figures that the Wolves are hesitant to accept it. Wojnarowski says that they have committed to drafting Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the No. 2 pick, and that the Hawks have resorted to trying to sell the Wolves on the idea that Smith would be a great fit alongside new point guard Ricky Rubio.
The issue, of course, is that the Wolves already have a pretty good power forward in Kevin Love. He's a double-double machine, and unlike Smith, he has an All-Star appearance on his resume.
But come on. Let's not kid ourselves. Smith is a better player than Love. He's more athletic, and he would indeed be a much more dangerous player in the kind of open-court offense that Rubio is going to bring to the Timberwolves.
My gut tells me the reason Kahn is hesitant to accept this deal is because it wasn't his idea. For some reason, that's the kind of vibe he gives off.
If it were me, though, I would pull the trigger. Besides, it's not like the Wolves need or want the No. 2 pick. May as well deal while the dealing's good.
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