NBA draft, 2009. It is the draft for which I have the most vivid memory. A day before, the Wolves had traded Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Washington Wizards for the fifth pick in the draft, pairing that with their own sixth pick.
It was the highlight of David Kahn’s career as the Wolves general manager. Miller and Foye were not pushing the Wolves toward winning, and top talent was in short supply in Minnesota. Getting another high draft pick for guys who were not needle movers was tremendous.
It put the Wolves in play for one of the top talents that year, though at the time of the trade it wasn’t clear who would be available at number five.