[SkywalkerAC]

I've been thinking for a while about the team or teams that will really be in the hunt for Greg Oden (and the other top prospects) next year. The answer is no longer an easy one. I think the days will be gone where we can guarantee that the Hawks and Bobcats and Raptors and the other "bottom feeders" will be the worst in the league (as teams like the Clippers have already made that jump). Looking at the league and how some of the struggling teams will make additions this summer, it is going to be very competitive next year to say the least. That is, unless one or two teams take the bait and set themselves up for disaster and a reasonable chance to land a great player. I've been wondering who these teams might be and only one is really starting to stand out in my mind. That team is the Minnesota Timberwolves.

All the Twolves have to do is trade KG to a team below the cap for a good draft pick and a good player on a rookie contract and they'd be well on their way in the Oden Sweepstakes. Chicago certainly comes to mind as a trade partner, maybe Atlanta does too.

I think we know that Minnesota's time has come. They're already starting to go young but they lose their draft pick if they were to put a winning team around KG for next season. I think it's best to blow it up this offseason, get two lotto picks and set themselves up for a top 3 pick next season.

Will Mchale and co drop the bomb?

Potential lineup:

Ben Gordon/Marcus Banks
Rashad Mcants/Ricky Davis
Ricky Davis/2006 2nd pick
2006 1st pick/Eddie Griffin
2007 first pick/Mark Blount

Starting to look like a no brainer to me.

 

[Gilgamesh]

Even if they end up the worst team in the league it doesn't mean that they will get #1 pick. They just increase their chances of getting the #1 pick.

Trading KG is too much of a risk for a pick that isn't guaranteed. It would be disaster if they traded KG and ended up with the a pick other than the first.

Plus, the way the Wolves are playing right now they could be a bottom feeder next year even with KG in the lineup.

 

[Larry Hughes for Retirement]

Oden has to go to college... I dont think teams are going to start tanking a season and a half ahead of time... lol

 

[DANNY]

dont make greg oden overrated

 

[Sir Patchwork]

Tanking is an art. The thing about it is, most teams that try to do it, do it wrong. You can't tank half heartedly. If you're going to tank, make sure you win 10 games or less the whole season. Most teams that tank, don't want it to be known that they're tanking, and they end up getting the worst case scenario. Bad team bringing in a prospect who isn't going to save the franchise.

Greg Oden is worth tanking for. He is the surest big man since Tim Duncan. He is much more of a sure thing than Dwight Howard even, and Howard is a really good big man.

Great franchises tank sometimes, but they don't hesitate, and they do it when they know what they want. A #1 pick doesn't save your franchise, a player does. Know what you want, and go after it without hesitation.

I don't think any team has the balls to tank whole heartedly to get Oden. He will probably land in the hands of some lucky team who had the lottery balls bounce their way.

 

[Hairy Midget]

Jeez, Greg Oden's getting overrated before he even gets a chance to play a college game.

 

[Sir Patchwork]

Jeez, Greg Oden's getting overrated before he even gets a chance to play a college game.

Have you seen him play?

 

[Hairy Midget]

Have you seen him play?

Nope. Are his games ever on ESPN or anything?

 

[ATLien]

Atlanta!!!

Can you say Cha-ching?

 

[ralaw]

I agree with Sir PAtchwork, Oden is about as sure of a prospect as Duncan. Oden will be among the top 5 centers in the league in 3-4 years and probably be the best defensive big man the league hands down by his second year.

 

[BG7]

The league wants the Knicks to be the ****tiest team in the league, those aren't Isiahs moves, but the NBA's to have a huge attitude clash between Larry Brown and the players making them suck. They want the Knicks to win the lottery, than of course Chicago pulls out the pick swap, get the #1 pick, they sign free agents this summer, have a possible #1 pick this year also, and a mid first rounder, and then Oden next summer!

 

[DANNY]

i'll join the gren oden bandwagon once he starts playing for Ohio State

But not now

who knows he might be the next pervis ellison

 

[iverson101]

Even if you finish dead last, there's a bigger chance you don't get the #1 pick than do get it.

 

[TucsonClip]

Well its not gonna happen for this reason. The Clipper have the T-Wolves pick next season, unprotected, if the T-Wolves dont make the playoffs this year.

 

[DANNY]

Well its not gonna happen for this reason. The Clipper have the T-Wolves pick next season, unprotected, if the T-Wolves dont make the playoffs this year.

DoH!

 

[futuristxen]

And I believe the Bulls have the Knicks pick next year, unprotected.
Don't the Suns have the Hawks pick next year unprotected?

Somebody will get fired.

 

[MemphisX]

Ok, there is now way McHale traded an unprotected 1st rounder for Jaric. I am not even going to bother looking it up.

On Tank Job 2007, Oden is definitely worth it plus there will be 2-3 more franchise level players in that draft just in case you get Rick Pitino'd during the lottery.

 

[ATLien]

Don't the Suns have the Hawks pick next year unprotected?

The pick is protected for 2007. Phoenix is not getting Oden.

 

[SkywalkerAC]

Ok, there is now way McHale traded an unprotected 1st rounder for Jaric. I am not even going to bother looking it up.

On Tank Job 2007, Oden is definitely worth it plus there will be 2-3 more franchise level players in that draft just in case you get Rick Pitino'd during the lottery.

Someone please confirm this for me. There is no way that Minnesota gave up Cassell AND an unprotected pick (after one year) for Jaric. Too ridiulous to be true.

It should be a pretty strong draft year so tanking (with a young, high potential team already in place) makes sense.

Not hype Oden? Are you guys on crack or something? It's Greg freaking Oden for crying out loud. Don't you guys follow prospects?

 

[Scinos]

I'd hope (for their sake) the Minnesota pick has got some type of protection for 2007. Otherwise McHale is even more incompetent than everyone thought.