The 76ers wanted to clear salary cap space so that they could sign free agent Elton Brand and the T-Wolves agreed to help them out…..at a price. The Timberwolves have acquired G/F Rodney Carney, C Calvin Booth and a future 1st round pick for a future 2nd round pick. Rodney Carney is a 6′7″, 204 pound swing man who can handle either small forward or shooting guard. The 24-year old Carney played in 70 games (6 starts) for the 76ers and he averaged 14.8 minutes, 6.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Carney has now played in 137 games (41 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 16.1 minutes, 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Carney should be able to work his way into the playing rotation for the T-Wolves this season. Calvin Booth is a 32-year old center. He is 6′11″, 250 pounds but he plays soft and probably will have a hard time making the T-Wolves roster. He played in 31 games (0 starts) for the Sixers last season and he averaged 6.6 minutes, 0.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 358 games (83 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 12.3 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists. The kicker for the T-Wolves was getting a future 1st round pick for a future 2nd round pick which is always a great move.

With the first pick in the 2nd round the Timberwolves selected center Nikola Pekovic from Serbia. He will likely played ball in Europe until at least the 2011-12 season. The 22-year is 6′11″, 265 pounds but he appears a tad soft based on his professional play in Europe. He has played in 199 games (89 starts) in his pro career in Europe and he has averaged 6.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. I’m against picking players in Europe that aren’t going to play in the NBA right away so I don’t like this pick.

GM Kevin McHale really loved Kevin Love but he figured that it made better sense to take the consensus #3 pick and then make a deal. That thinking netted the Timberwolves both Kevin Love and Mike Miller in a blockbuster trade after the draft last night. Love was dominating in his freshman year at UCLA and it’s scary to think that he’s only 19 years old. The 6′10″, 255 pound Love will get a chance to compete for the starting job at power forward with the idea that Al Jefferson can shift to center full time. Love played in 39 games (38 starts) for UCLA last season and he averaged 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The thinking here is that Love will be a good NBA player and that the Wolves made a great trade with Memphis.

The Timberwolves traded rookie shooting guard O.J. Mayo, guard Marko Jaric, forward Antoine Walker and G/F Greg Buckner to the Grizzlies for rookie C/F Kevin Love, G/F Mike Miller, forward Brian Cardinal and center Jason Collins. The Grizzlies must have really wanted O.J. Mayo because the T-Wolves dumped three really bad contracts on them. Kevin Love will likely be the starter at power forward for the T-Wolves with Al Jefferson moving to center this season. Mike Miller was a big key to the trade for the Timberwolves as he gives them something that they have sorely lacked…..outside shooting. Miller played in 70 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He also shot 43.2% from three point range which is outstanding. Miller has now played in 565 games (431 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Miller will start probably at shooting guard and he will make the team better from day #1. 31-year old forward Brian Cardinal is a hustle player who has a nice outside shot. He will give the T-Wolves some solid minutes off the bench. Cardinal played in 37 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies last season and he averaged 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Cardinal has now played in 263 games (29 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 6.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. 29-year old center Jason Collins will likely just provide a breather for Al Jefferson a couple of minutes per night. Collins played in 74 games (24 starts) with the Nets & Grizzlies and he averaged 1.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Collins has now played in 541 games (407 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 4.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. This was a very good trade for the Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves have waived veteran center Theo Ratliff. Ratliff played in 10 games for the T-Wolves this season and he averaged 21.4 minutes, 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He also shot 51% from the floor which is quite good. The T-Wolves wanted to play the young kids on the roster which is the reason they let Ratliff go. If Ratliff is healthy someone will likely pick him up for the playoff stretch run.