Here is the latest rumor from ESPN’s Chad Ford.  I swear I do not work for him, but this is his time to shine and he usually has some decent “inside info”.

Look for the Minnesota Timberwolves to make a strong play to trade up to No. 2. The Wolves are very, very high on Evan Turner. They feel his combination of versatility, scoring ability and court presence is the perfect fit for their young club.

The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, aren’t a perfect fit for Turner. Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday are versatile guards who can defend multiple positions and handle the ball. And, like Turner, neither is a lights-out shooter.

With Minnesota pining hard for Turner, don’t be surprised to see the Wolves offer up the No. 4 and either the No. 16 or the No. 23 pick to Philly to move up two spots.  That would allow the Wolves to get the guy they’ve coveted all along in the draft and give the Sixers an extra pick and a shot at another guy they’re high on: Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins or Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson.

This could play out a couple of ways.

1. The teams trade straight-up picks prior to the draft, you could have other players and cash involved.
2. Or they do the whole wait and see if they actually make the correct picks and then trade hats – i.e. Stephon Marbury and Ray Allen or Randy Foye and Brandon Roy (bad trip down poor-decision-lane).

I do expect something to happen, but I don’t want to see Al Jefferson traded unless Philly demands it, and we shouldn’t have to trade the rights to Ricky Rubio either.  We have three first round picks, plus two in the second, and there are quality players in the 16-23 range.  I would love to walk out of this draft with Turner and Luke Babbitt, Xavier Henry, or James Anderson.  I’m sure I will like some other players, after “further inspection”.

Please feel free to submit your trade ideas as we move closer to the June 24th draft.

Side-Note: I heard David Kahn on the Dan Patrick show and Kahn completely believes that Rubio will be a Timberwolf after this up-coming season.  I hope he is right.  Here is the interview recap and the audio.