The NBA Draft is still a bit in the future and with the conference finals ready to finish up with Game 7 on Monday night, the teams that are not still alive in the playoffs are looking towards next season, which is why the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to trade up in the draft.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Timberwolves are looking to trade up from the number nine pick to get a shot at taking UCLA freshman star Shabazz Muhammad. The report says that the team is willing to part with top draft pick Derrick Williams as well as their number nine pick in the draft to move up and some options could be with the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Orlando Magic, as they hold some of the top picks.
Muhammad is considered to be one of the top talents in the draft along with Victor Oladipo and Nerlens Noel and if the Timberwolves find a deal they like and a willing partner, they may decide to pull the trigger to bring some more talent onto the roster. The team already has Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, but both players dealt with injuries last season and the Wolves realized they need more depth on offense.
Williams was picked at number two overall two years ago and played nearly 30 minutes while averaging 12 points and 5.5 rebounds and while he shot over 40 percent from the field, the team will have to find someone that is looking to make a deal. The Cavaliers have said that they will field offers for the number one pick, but whoever has that is likely to take Noel and the Cavs appear to be ready to stay where they are despite saying they would be willing to trade the pick.
The team ranked 20th in the league in scoring and 15th in point allowed and players like Oladipo or Muhammad would greatly add talent to the roster. The team could end up having Andrei Kirilenko as a free agent depending on his option and the team will be ready to have Love back for training camp as he dealt with a hand injury.