OTHER DROP DOWN

Saunders, Timberwolves ready to shine on NBA draft night

Jun 24, 2015, 3:00 PM

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders greets the media with a smile during an NBA basketball news conference, Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves have the No. 1, 31st and 36th picks in the NBA draft. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Flip Saunders was in the Minnesota Timberwolves front office in 1995 when they drafted a teenager named Kevin Garnett, ushering in an era of respectability for the franchise.

He was the coach a year later when a draft-night trade brought Stephon Marbury to the team, forming a dynamic tandem with Garnett that finally pushed the Wolves into the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s eight years in the league.

As important and significant as those two nights were in turning an NBA laughingstock into a competitor in the powerful Western Conference, Saunders believes the Wolves could be on the verge of an even bigger moment when they draft No. 1 overall on Thursday night.

“Tomorrow should be maybe the best draft day that this organization has ever had,” Saunders said Wednesday.

As lost as the Timberwolves appeared to be when they plucked Garnett out of high school 20 years ago, they have fallen on even harder times over the last decade. During that time they fired Saunders as coach, traded Garnett to Boston for a package of players who never panned out, said hello and goodbye to Kevin Love as the new face of the franchise, changed coaches seven times, brought Saunders back as team president and coach, and reacquired Garnett in a trade with Brooklyn.

Through all that they have missed the playoffs for 11 straight seasons, the longest active drought in the NBA, and worn down their dwindling fan base with a new rebuilding plan seemingly every other season.

Now, finally, some optimism.

Saunders and GM Milt Newton turned a disgruntled Love into rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins and the assets to bring Garnett back and built a promising young roster that includes draft picks Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng and Zach LaVine. Ricky Rubio is expected back fully healthy next season and the team recently opened a $25 million practice facility.

All of the progress and excitement surrounding the first pick has led to more than 9,000 fans sending in RSVPs for the team’s draft party at Target Center on Thursday night, suggesting renewed local interest in the team.

“The KG draft ended up being a great draft,” Saunders said. “The only other time I sensed the same excitement was when we made the trade for Marbury after having Garnett and having the two guys together. It seems ironic that you had two dynamic players that were the beginning of that franchise. I believe that’s what we’re starting to do now, too.”

Saunders said he feels comfortable with their decision, but would not say who will be the pick. The heavy favorite is Kentucky big man Karl-Anthony Towns, a versatile power forward-center that would give the Wolves defensive presence in the paint they have lacked for years. He can shoot from the outside and would be a nice complement to Wiggins, a strong perimeter defender and athletic marvel who shined while working in the post last season.

“He likes Minnesota,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said of Towns. “He said from day one, ‘I’ll go to Minnesota. I love it. Let’s build something.'”

The Wolves also hosted Duke center Jahlil Okafor, Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, a point guard who spent last season in China, for workouts last week.

Garnett, who will become a free agent in July but is widely expected to return, sat in on some of the workouts, but Saunders said he had no role in making the decision.

“I wouldn’t put him in that situation. That wouldn’t be fair to him, being a player,” Saunders said. “And he didn’t want to be in that. He just wanted to see these guys and see them in person and see how they were and see how they reacted and that. He was impressed with everybody that he saw.”

For the first time in ages, the Wolves are sitting in the driver’s seat.

Considering that a year ago at this time Saunders was in the middle of so much uncertainty with Love wanting out and coach Rick Adelman retiring, they’ve come a long way. And it makes it all the more imperative that they get this choice right.

“I look at where we were and we were able to come out of that situation and get a potential superstar in Wiggins,” Saunders. “You look at the development of some of our young players and now where we’re at. We’ve made strides. We have a chance to have something special.”

___

Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Other Drop Down

FILE – In this July 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak...

Arizona Sports

Trump hosts Women’s British Open as Park resumes slam quest

Inbee Park resuming her quest for the career Grand Slam. Teenage prodigy Lydia Ko seeking that elusive first major. Michelle Wie going for victory with an injured left foot.

9 years ago

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, right, motions to Democratic Reps., from left: Peter Barca; ...

Arizona Sports

Wisconsin Assembly approves Milwaukee Bucks arena deal

The Wisconsin state Assembly voted Tuesday to spend $250 million in public funds on a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, a deal that both Republicans and Democrats lauded as good for the state and city.

9 years ago

FILE-In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo former PGA golfer Charlie Sifford sits in the dining room in ...

Arizona Sports

Family of late black golf great accused of $1 million theft

The son and ex-daughter-in-law of late black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford were indicted Tuesday on charges they stole more than $1 million from him.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during a practice round for the Quicken Loans Nat...

Arizona Sports

Michelle Wie limps into her next major

that matched her best result of the year -- she developed a bone spur in her left foot that she attributed to the hilly terrain of Lancaster Country Club.

9 years ago

Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic golf tournament Sunday, July 2...

Arizona Sports

Golf’s youth movement means 30 is the new 20

a major -- from an otherwise remarkable record. Ko had never missed the cut in her career until that week at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. A month later, she was never in contention at the U.S. Women's Open.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods smiles as he answers a question during a news conference prior to the start of the Quic...

Arizona Sports

Tiger Woods running out of chances to salvage season

Tiger Woods knows he's played poorly over the past two years. Now, he's facing the prospect of an early end to his season.

9 years ago

Saunders, Timberwolves ready to shine on NBA draft night