Possible Solutions to Save NBA Lottery Teams

Minnesota Timberwolves - Trade Pick, Draft Jeff Green, Trade Garnett

The Timberwolves will probably stand pat in the draft and choose Spencer Hawes out of Washington, but why? Hawes did not show enough in college to be the 7^th player chosen in the draft. If the Timberwolves are that intent on choosing Hawes they should swap picks with the Bulls, who are salivating for Yi, pick up a future first rounder and still grab Hawes at 9. The y should not even draft Hawes, however. It looks like Jeff Green would still be available at number 9 and they should get him. Green is the most ready to play right now outside of Brewer, Horford, Oden and Durant and will please Garnett the most. If Garnett does not stay, Green is the most likely prospect to take over his scoring that is left in the draft. The Timberwolves should seriously try to trade Garnett, especially if the Suns offer Amare Stoudemire (which I doubt they do) or if the Celtics trade them the 5^th pick, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson (which they would be stupid to do). They should trade Garnett before they get nothing for him. With Garnett the team is going nowhere and without him they aren't either, but they will have some nice pieces for the future.

The Timberwolves roster may have Green, Davis, Garnett and a random assortment of other guys who don't really deserve to be in the NBA.

Charlotte Bobcats - Trade picks, sign Desmond Mason, and resign Gerald Wallace

The Bobcats might be able to pry Pao Gasol away from Memphis with the 8^th and 22^nd picks in the draft and maybe Sean May. The Bobcats actually have a good nucleus with Felton, Okafor and Wallace and the roster only needs minor tweaking. If they can trade for Gasol that gives them some great outside and inside scoring they so desperately need and if they can sign Desmond Mason they can have a great outsider shooter they need. With only a few minor tweaks they Bobcats could be very good, very soon and those tweaks shouldn't come through the draft. If they hold onto the picks they could draft Yi or Noah, neither of which would be a good fit right now.