If you didn't know, I'm a Twolves fan and have recently been getting back into the NBA after a long time off. As a Wolves fan it has seems like its been an eternity since they have make any noise.
I started to think about it and the same person always comes to my mind. Kevin McHale. I've hated this guy since 1996 when he traded Ray Allen away. I know everyone is thinking that I'm being hard on a guy that brought us Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love, he had some luck with guys named Kevin, but here are the facts.
He took over the Wolves in 95 and his first major move was drafting KG. It was a huge risk at the time, drafting a high school player, but this had to be the move that solidified his run as a GM for so long. Lets look at just the drafts that he had as a GM
I started to think about it and the same person always comes to my mind. Kevin McHale. I've hated this guy since 1996 when he traded Ray Allen away. I know everyone is thinking that I'm being hard on a guy that brought us Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love, he had some luck with guys named Kevin, but here are the facts.
He took over the Wolves in 95 and his first major move was drafting KG. It was a huge risk at the time, drafting a high school player, but this had to be the move that solidified his run as a GM for so long. Lets look at just the drafts that he had as a GM
1995
Kevin Garnett A
Mchale drafted him 5th overall. Which was a huge risk at the time. Nobody drafted HS players back then. I guess Mchale was a pioneer.
1996
Ray Allen B
He would of been great with KG. Wait if he would of moved up in the 99 draft and selected Pierce he would of had the big 3. But he traded the smooth shooting guard from UCONN for Stephon Marbury. Not a bad trade at the time. Steph had some good years and lots more potential then Ray did, but Steph ran his way out of Minnesota and the league.
1997
Paul Grant F
Who the hell is this clown. I think I remember him with is warm ups on during one game. What a horrible pick. Here are some players selected after him. Not Allstars but good role players and one the twolves overpaid for.
Bobby Jackson
J. Vaughn
Stephen Jackson
Alvin Williams
Marc Blount
Troy Hudson
Damon Jones
Mikki Moore
1998
Rasho Neterovic C
He was a contributor. Not a bad pick but not great. Here are some players taken after him and a few that the twolves overpaid or traded too much for.
Al Harrington
Ricky Davis
Nazr Muhommed
Rashard Lewis
Brad Miller
Mike James
1999
Wally Szcerbiak B-
Wally had a few good years with the wolves and was a great sidekick to KG. He was eventually traded to the Celtics for Ricky Davis. Oh yeah, Mchale also had to give the Celtics a 1st round pick to make it happen. Was Ricky that much better then Wally?? I don't think so. Here are some players taken after Wally. If they would of taken Andre Miller or Jason Terry they wouldn't of spent so much money on PG's after Billups left.
Rip Hamilton
Andre Miller
S Marion
J Terry
C Maggette
William Avery D
The only reason I give him a D and not an F is that William had some potential coming out of college. He basically amounted to nothing. Here are some players drafted after both Wally and William
R Artest
James Posey
Andrei Kirilenko
Manu Ginobili
Raja Bell
2000
No pick. You re probably thinking that it was traded away or something like that. No, it was Kevin under that table contract with Joe Smith. Fucking Joe Smith. How average of a player can you be. I mean it wasn't Shaq or Duncan. It was Joe Smith. The penalty was a franchise killer. Bunch of 1st round picks had to be forfeited.
2001
See above
2002
See above
2003
Ndubi Ebi F
This might of possibly been the draft that killed the Wolves and KG leaving. It was overlooked because Mchale brought in Cassell and Spreewell that year. Here are some very good players drafted after Ebi that could of helped that year or helped built the wolves for some years.
Josh Howard
Leanardo Barbosa
J Kapono
Luke Walton
Steve Blake
Zaza Pachulia
Keith Bogans
Matt Bonner
Mo Williams
Kyle Korver
Jose Calderon
Kendrik Perkins
2004
Forfeited
2005
Rashard Mccants C
Had a couple decent years. Nothing special, because he was crap on a crap team, but look at all of these players they had a shot at.
Danny Granger
Nate Robinson
Jarrett Jack
David Lee
Monta Ellis
Amir Johnson
Gortat
Lou Williams
Some of these guys are very good NBA players. Where is Mccants now????
2006
Brandon Roy B
He was traded for Randy Foye. Brandon Roy could of been something really special in this league and it's too bad injuries got the best of him. The only reason I'm giving him a B is because Foye was traded to Washington for there 1st round pick that was used on Ricky Rubio, which Mchale had no part in drafting.
2007
Corey Brewer C
Had some decent years with the Wolves. But you have to think that the Wolves were probably the worst or second worst team in the league at the time and he couldn't succeed?? He was eventually traded and the team got Anthony Randolph. Who I think is a good player and will eventually find the floor and play well. Here are some good players drafted after Brewer.
Noah
Stuckey
Nick Young
Marc Gasol
2008
OJ Mayo B+
Traded him for Kevin Love. What can I say. Kevin Love is the face of the franchise right now. He also drafted Pekovic in the second round. Some very good players but it was too late.
He also draft Mario Chalmers that year in the second, but in a typical Mchale move. Traded him away for nothing.
Well there are the drafts he had part of. I'm not saying that every GM can hit a jackpot every year, but if you throw out 3 drafts out of 14. He didn't do shit.
Now for transactions. I can't remember them all but there are a few that stick in my mind.
First.
Trading Stephon Marbury for Terrell Brandon. I don't know any other GM that would of traded an early 20 year old all star point guard for a 30 year old past all star point guard, that hindered the resigning of Billups. One good point is that Brandon's huge contract was traded to get Latrell Sprewell.
Second
Not resigning Chauncey Billups. What a big mistake. Can you imagine Billups with Ray Allen and KG in the early 2000's??? Would of been something special. Even with Billups and KG, it would of saved the wolves a ton of money in the future.
Third
Trading Wally and a 1st rd for Ricky Davis. The wolves got the 1st rounder back with the KG trade, but what a bad trade.
Fourth.
Trading Sam Cassell and a 1st round pick for Marco Jaric. WTF. I believe Kevin then decided to overpay Marco after that to make his trade look not the bad. 6 year/40 million. Wow
Fifth
Signing Troy Hudson to a 6 year/ 36 million dollar contract couples years after letting Chauncey Billups go for 6/ 33 million dollar contract to the pistons.
Sixth
Trading KG away. What do the Wolves have today because of this. Well a couple of draft picks from Utah for Big Al, couple of picks from the Rockets for Jonny Flynn, and Martell Webster. Horseshit for a guy that was in his prime and MVP caliber. Hopefully the picks can work out.
Seventh
Joe Smith controversy. What the fuck was he thinking. Everyone forgets this because the wolves were competitive during the stretch when the picks were taken away. All I can say is that is it killed this franchise.
Eight
Mike James four-year contract with the Wolves worth $23.5 million. Even 3 years after Billups leaving Twolves overpaying for PG.
Now a lot of people are talking trash about Kahn, but he did give Love an extension and got Rubio to sign and come abroad. But there is definitely some excitement in the air and I like it.
PS. I still think Jonny Flynn can play. I also liked the Malik Sealy and Eddie Grffin signings from Mchale. It's too bad they passed away.
