Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners recently there’s a possibility his franchise will acquire another team’s No. 1 pick for the 2007 NBA draft in June. The Timberwolves already own a No. 1 pick and their position in the draft will be determined by the NBA lottery on May 22.
The beleaguered Wolves had a 32-50 record last season, the team’s worst since 1996. The club needs changes to slow fan apathy and contend for the playoffs next season and beyond.
“We’re leaving all options open,” Taylor said. While there may be just a few teams willing to sell a No. 1 pick, the Wolves’ owner said a trade could also bring an extra first round choice to his team. A team might be persuaded to part with its No. 1 pick for $3 million to $5 million. Not having to pay $8 million or so to a No. 1 draft choice represents a nice savings, too.
With about two-thirds of the roster having players that are either guards or small forwards, Taylor admitted he wants to acquire “fairly tall players,” adding such draftees need physical strength, too. The idea is to find rebounding and defensive help for the Wolves’ primary physical players, 7-foot-1 Kevin Garnett and 6-foot-7 Craig Smith.
Fred Hoiberg, the Wolves assistant general manager, is impressed with the quality of potential players in the draft, including college underclassmen. Those players need to remain eligible for the draft, rather than opt to return to school, to make the 2007 draft class as good later as it looks now. “It’s a very deep draft both domestic and international,” Hoiberg said.
Taylor said he will be more involved than in the past regarding draft and trade decisions this off-season. As much as he wants to improve his team, the Wolves “won’t change, just to change.”
Taylor said he doesn’t have the final figure but the franchise’s financial loss for last season will be “substantial,” in the range of “$10 million to $15 million.” He’s budgeting for a loss next season, too.