The Minnesota Timberwolves are widely expected to select Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, which may in turn prompt them to trade Michael Beasley, according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress in his latest mock draft for Yahoo! Sports. Though trading the pick is an option--Givony reports the Wolves are shopping for a "veteran big man"--it nonetheless appears as though Beasley's days as a Timberwolf may be numbered:
It's likely that Williams will be the one taken since he is the consensus second-best talent in this draft, according to NBA decision makers. If Minnesota keeps the pick and indeed selects Williams, sources say the Timberwolves will look to move Michael Beasley(notes) as they try to improve the "culture of the team."
Beasley, taken second overall in the 2008 Draft, arrived via a trade last July from the Miami Heat, who needed to clear his salary in order to create the cap space, which in turn helped them sign Chris Bosh and LeBron James as free agents. He averaged 19.2 points and 5.6 boards with Minnesota, playing 32.3 minutes per game. His talent is undeniable, but his fit with a Wolves roster which already includes Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, and could potentially include Williams, is questionable at best.