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Chase Budinger Trade: Minnesota's New Swingman 'A Good Fit' With Coach Rick Adelman

The Minnesota Timberwolves opted to deal away their 2012 1st round draft pick on Monday in a bit of a surprise move, as the organization came to the conclusion that 24-year-old Houston forward Chase Budinger was more valuable than any hit-or-miss rookie with the No. 18 overall pick could be.

A 6-foot-7 small forward with a guard's skill-set, Budinger would appear to be the perfect type of perimeter-oriented player for head coach Rick Adelman, and clearly drew the praise of David Kahn, the Timberwolves' President of Basketball Operations.

"We're excited to add a player like Chase who is a proven shot-maker and also has an excellent all-around game," Kahn said. "Chase knows Rick Adelman's system well after playing for him in Houston, and he will be a good fit on our team."

In addition to landing a key component like Budinger, the T-Wolves also acquired the draft rights to 6-foot-9 forward Lior Eliyahuin. Instead of dealing with the uncertainty that often comes with picking in the latter part of the 1st round, Minnesota did a masterful job of both addressing its needs and adding an impact player with this deal.

For more on the T-Wolves, head over to Canis Hoopus. For more NBA news and analysis, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub page.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.