In the merry-go-round of Timberwolves lineups this season rookie Corey Brewer has started 17 of 40 games and averaged 22.5 minutes per game. Brewer’s numbers substantiate his lack of playing time: 5.1 points, 3.80 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
The Wolves’ 2007 No. 1 draft choice, the seventh pick in the draft, has been a minimal contributor so far. With a 6-34 record, the NBA’s worst, the Wolves desperately need players who can perform with skill and consistency, but other than center Al Jefferson no one has seized the opportunity from day one, although forward Ryan Gomes has impressed recently. Gomes has been in the starting lineup for the last 16 games and is averaging 16.2 points per game and 7 rebounds.
Given their draft history, the Wolves are on the spot with Brewer. A USA Today article last week listed the publication’s top 10 rookies this season. Brewer didn’t make the list and five of the players were later draft choices than the Wolves rookie, and a sixth player, Jamario Moon of Toronto, wasn’t drafted.
Whether Brewer proves worthy of being the No. 7 pick deserves time but past drafts haven’t inspired fan confidence. In 2006 the Wolves could have retained Brandon Roy, now one of the league’s most promising young players and scoring 19.3 points per game. Last year’s NBA rookie of the year averaged 16.8 in his first pro season. The Wolves chose Roy on draft day, then traded him to Portland for Randy Foye whose scoring in his rookie season, 10.1 points per game, was less impressive than Roy. This season Foye hasn’t played a regular season game because of a knee injury.
In 2005 the Wolves drafted Rashad McCants with the No. 14 pick in the first round. Forwards Danny Granger of Indiana and David Lee of New York were later first round choices that would have provided more size and consistent production. Granger averages 17.2 points per game for the Pacers and Lee averages almost eight rebounds per game coming off the bench for the Knicks.
Even casual Wolves fans know that in 2003 the franchise drafted high school player Ndudi Ebi when Josh Howard was available. Ebi, of course, is out of the NBA now and Howard has become a star for Dallas, averaging 20.6 points per game.
Later this year the Wolves figure to have a lottery pick in the draft, maybe one of the first three choices. Who the player will be and how he develops for the Wolves is anyone’s guess but this much is for sure: the HELP WANTED SIGN will still be out and spelled in capital letters.