NBA Trade Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves' Young Stars

The Minnesota Timberwolves will begin the 2011-12 NBA season with a new head coach in Rick Adelman and a ton of young, inexpensive talent, but no veteran leadership and no clear plan by sports writer-turned-general manager David Kahn to mold it all into a winner.

Kahn has spent the last three NBA Drafts stocking up on picks and players at the same position each time, as opposed to doing much of anything to, you know, build a team that doesn't stink.

As a result, the T-Wolves are overstocked with valuable trade chips at just about every position, the sort of pieces that could easily bring back quality veterans to lead a roster full of precocious youngsters to more than 16 wins per season going forward.

Assuming that Kahn has some sense when it comes to making basketball decisions—which may still be a stretch—who would (or should) he send packing?

Michael Beasley

The first and most obvious choice here would be Michael Beasley. The third-year forward out of Kansas State had a breakout year in Minnesota, posting career highs in points (19.2) and assists (2.2) per game, along with 5.6 rebounds while converting 45 percent of his shots from the field. All the while, Beasley showed off the athleticism and the tremendous skill set that made him the No. 2 pick overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.

And though Beasley left his on-court mediocrity in Miami, he couldn't quite escape the same maturity and legal issues that dogged him in South Beach. Beasley ran afoul of the law back in June, when he was pulled over for speeding and subsequently cited for marijuana possession. This, after having spent time in a rehab center in 2009 to presumably deal with his habit.

What's more, he made a fool of himself this summer when he shoved a heckler in the face during a celebrity pickup game at Dyckman Park in New York City.

Still, there's no denying Beasley's basketball abilities or the fact that he won't turn 23 until January. Throw in the fact that he's entering a contract year (i.e. he'll be playing for a new deal), and there should be a long line of GMs beating down Kahn's door if and when Beasley goes on the trading block.

Anthony Randolph

Anthony Randolph is essentially the same exact player that Beasley is—a tall, lanky forward who can dribble, shoot, pass and rebound—except without the playing time to prove himself. Minnesota is the third organization of which Randolph has been a part in his three-year pro career, following a two-year stint with the Golden State Warriors under Don Nelson's thumb and all of 17 games as a member of the New York Knicks last season.

He's seen the court an average of just over 18 minutes per game thus far, though he showed considerable promise after joining the T-Wolves last season. Kurt Rambis gave Randolph 20.1 minutes per game, and the kid delivered, scoring 11.7 points on 49.8 percent shooting from the field.

Unfortunately for Randolph, he may only be third in Rick Adelman's pecking order of versatile forwards behind Beasley and Derrick Williams, the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. With restricted free agency on the horizon, look for Randolph to get some love from the phones, especially once it's clear that he's not going to set foot on the hardwood much at all.

Martell Webster

Speaking of redundancies, the Wolves' front court logjam includes the small forward position as well, where Williams—if he doesn't fit in as a power forward—will contend for playing time alongside Wesley Johnson and Martell Webster.

Seeing as how Kahn drafted Williams this past summer and Johnson the time before that, he's unlikely to dump either of those guys, leaving Webster as the odd man out.

Certainly, there's a decent market out there for guys who are 6'7" and shoot 37.7 percent from long range, especially those who make less than $6 million per season and will have just turned 25 once the season starts.

Whether Kahn, in his infinite wisdom, is willing to test that market, particularly to bring back a veteran leader, is another story entirely.