Reports: Timberwolves Will Select Wesley Johnson or Derrick Favors

Talking with Dan Patrick this morning, Timberwolves President David Kahn made it clear who the team would like to take with the No. 4 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft:

Kahn talked about who they’re looking at No. 4. “We like Wes Johnson. We also like Derrick Favors,” Kahn said. Dan asked if Favors was there at No. 4, would they take him. Kahn said yes, because that means Johnson is gone. Same answer if Johnson is available at No. 4.

In the rare instance that both Johnson and Favors are on the board when the Wolves make their first pick, Kahn was uncertain who his team would select:

Dan asked Kahn if Johnson and Favors were there, who would he take. “I’ve been very open and candid. But at this point, I don’t have an answer to that.”

From Derrick Favors to Wesley Johnson and back to Favors. The New Jersey Nets continue to change their mind on who to take at No. 3, but Chad Ford of ESPN writes that the Nets are now leaning back toward their original favorite:

Georgia Tech big man Derrick Favors is back in favor in New Jersey. A league source told me on Wednesday night that after 24 hours of debate, it looks like Favors has re-emerged as the favorite to go No. 3. After a so-so Favors workout on Monday, the Nets began to move toward Syracuse forward Wes Johnson. But with the draft now less than 24 hours away, Favors has re-emerged as the favorite.

While the Wolves initially were locked in on Johnson, they reportedly became comfortable with Favors in the past 24 hours. Now, their draft plans could be changing again.

I’m not sure if Minnesota will greet the news with joy or relief. They focused in on Johnson early but got comfortable with the idea of taking Favors at 4 over the course of the last 24 hours.

How long until these plans get yet another shakeup?

It isn’t hard to tell that the NBA Draft is less than 48 hours away. As the Timberwolves near another stepping stone in their rebuilding path, the rumors continue to circle regarding who will be available when they make their first selection at No. 4.

After rumors swirled yesterday that the New Jersey Nets were beginning to warm to the idea of selecting Syracuse swingman Wesley Johnson a pick ahead of the Wolves, experts were attempting to determine the Wolves’ next move.

Last night, FoxSports.com senior basketball writer, Jeff Goodman tweeted that the Nets may still be looking toward Derrick Favors:

Source told FOXSports.com that the New Jersey Nets still leaning towards taking Derrick Favors over Wesley Johnson.

The way things have gone so far, we might not actually know what’s going down until it actually does on Thursday night.

In his latest trade buzz column, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford writes that the Minnesota Timberwolves will select Derrick Favors with the No. 4 pick if New Jersey decides to pass on him at No. 3.

Sources in Minnesota are saying that they’ll take Derrick Favors at No. 4 if Turner and Johnson are off the board. The T-Wolves may be bummed by this development, but I think it’s a great deal. The team lucked into Rubio at No. 5 last year and get a steal with Favors at No. 4 this year. Those two together could be awesome down the road.

Head over to SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus to get excited about Favors.

Recently, it appeared as though the Minnesota Timberwolves could count on making Syracuse swingman Wesley Johnson the fourth pick in Thursday's NBA Draft. But word out of New Jersey is that the Nets, who have the third pick, now prefer Johnson to big men Derrick Favors and DeMarcus Cousins, which could throw a serious wrench into Wolves GM David Kahn's draft plans. Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski pointed out he's already stuck with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, two incompatible big men, and needs help on the wings, yet Favors and Cousins are the next best players in the draft after Johnson, and neither would address a need. And there's another layer of difficulty here for Kahn, as Tom Ziller of NBA FanHouse explains:

Interestingly, Wolves GM David Kahn criticized Favors' fitness level after the Atlanta product visited Minnesota, saying he felt Favors was "out of shape." Favors handled it gracefully, though those who have spoken to his agent have reported Favors' camp is outraged. Now it appears Kahn could be in a position to draft Favors, marking the second year in a row he handled his top pick without remarkable grace.

Indeed, as SBN colleague Alex Halsted posted earlier in this StoryStream^TM, if the Wolves are still sold on Johnson as their guy, they'll have to pay the Nets a price. But from Kahn's perspective, that price might be worth it to avoid being stuck with a third big man who needs minutes and touches, while being utterly bereft of perimeter players outside the streaky, unreliable Corey Brewer.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweets that while the New Jersey Nets are ‘leaining toward’ selecting Wesley Johnson with the No. 3 pick, they remain undecided. He also mentions that the Minnesota Timberwolves could still have him if they’re willing to pay a price:

Nets still undecided at No. 3, but leaning toward Wes Johnson. If Minny wants its man at No 4, sources say NJ will make Minny pay with picks.

The NBA Draft is Thursday, and the rumors are beginning to fly.

For everything Timberwolves, head over to SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus.

As was stated in an earlier update, Syracuse swingman Wesley Johnson seems to be a lock for the Timberwolves with the 4th pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

That of course, is if he’s still available.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

All along, the Wolves had planned to select Johnson at No. 4, and yet the New Jersey Nets are holding serious discussions about drafting the small forward and taking their chances with trying to sign a power forward in free agency.

Draft Express is moving him up in their mock draft, citing information that New Jersey will indeed make him the selection at No. 3:

Wesley Johnson is moving up to 3, New Jersey, on our next mock coming shortly. Told New Jersey will take him and go for a PF in free agency.

For everything Minnesota Timberwolves, head over to SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus.

Jerry Zgoda of StarTribune.com writes that Minnesota’s point guard, Jonny Flynn, is taking an active interest in the workouts of Wesley Johnson, his former teammate at Syracuse University.

On Tuesday, Flynn watched his friend work out for Kahn, coach Kurt Rambis and owner Glen Taylor. Johnson and Flynn practiced against each other for a season at Syracuse after Johnson transferred there from Iowa State.

Flynn envisioned himself playing on the same court with both Johnson and Wolves forward Corey Brewer, who’s about an inch taller and 20 pounds lighter than the draft prospect some scouts have compared to Shawn Marion.

“Having both those guys on the floor, you can just close your eyes, throw the ball up and have both of them fight for it,” Flynn said. “Wes would be a great fit for us. We could really use him on this team.”

Seeking input from players, especially star players, is common practice in the NBA. But in this case, given Flynn’s up-and-down rookie season and the team’s continuing question marks at the point guard position going forward, it’s probably best not to let friendship, familiarity and college loyalty cloud the draft day decision-making process.

Should Flynn have a say in the draft? Discuss this and everything Minnesota Timberwolves over at SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus.

TwolvesBlog.com has video of Wes Johnson after his workout in Minnesota and quotes Johnson on his interest in the team.

“I would love to come here,” the 23-year-old Johnson said. “I really would. Especially with Jonny here. I’ve met a lot of the people, the coaching staff, and they’re wonderful people. I think I would be a good fit here.”

For everything Timberwolves, head over to SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus.

Usually there isn’t much hoopla regarding NBA Draft workouts, but when the Timberwolves brought Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson in alone some ears perked up.

Most notably, ESPN’s Chad Ford tweeted about Johnson’s workout on Tuesday.

Wes Johnson was in Minn. Heard he wowed everyone … not only with his basketball skills, but he’s a really great kid. A lock at 4.

Ladies and gentleman, it looks like the Wolves will have back-to-back first round picks out of Syracuse.