Big Men Make Impression
June 17, 2008
By Contributing Writer Zach Eisendrath
UCLA power forward Kevin Love may have
been the biggest name to grace the floor at the Wolves' pre-draft
workout at Target Center on Tuesday, but there was no shortage of
intriguing post prospects at Minnesota's practice facility.
In addition to Love, French center Alexis Ajinca, Texas A&M center
DeAndre Jordan and Ohio State center Kosta Koufos - all projected first
round draft picks - also worked out for Wolves' brass.
Timberwolves.com caught up with all three of them, as well as Vice
President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, to get their
respective thoughts on a variety of topics with just nine days
remaining before the June 26 NBA Draft.
Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale:
Q: On if he agrees with Wolves Assistant General Manager Fred
Hoiberg that Kevin Love reminds him of his former teammate, Bill
Walton:
McHale: Fred wasn't born when Bill Walton was throwing all those
passes. Never listen to a (Iowa State) Cyclone when it comes to
history. He's completely different. I don't want to counteract my
friend Freddy, but Bill was an over-the-head passer ... Kevin's really
that Wes Unseld. He's got a really good feel for the game, moves the
ball up and down the floor really well. He does some really good
things. And again, I think Kosta Koufus shot the ball very well, he can
spread the floor for a seven-footer. Ajinca's really interesting, he
has a 7-7 wingspan. It was really a good group ... All four big guys
were impressive to me.
Q: On how Love measured out at pre-draft camp:
McHale: I think Kevin measured out in shoes 6-9 and 1/2. Let me tell
you something, the difference between 6-9 1/2 and 6-10 really isn't all
that much. These are some really long kids out here today, that's why
it was interesting to watch him. He did a nice job against them.
Q: On if Love is a legitimate option at third pick:
McHale: A lot of guys are a legitimate option.
Q: On if Love is athletic enough to play the post in the NBA:
McHale: Yeah, I think so. I think Kevin looks really good. He's always
been a really good small area quickness player. When you're a big guy,
you're playing in small areas, you're not running around normally out
to the three-point line.
Q: On Love's basketball IQ:
McHale: He just knows how to play. There's a gift in knowing how to
play. It makes you faster, it makes you quicker, it makes you
everything because you're anticipating everything, you're a step ahead.
Q: On if he enjoys evaluating big men more so than other prospects:
McHale: Yeah I think so. You like to see big guys. Unfortunately in our
league its getting so doggone small. I never thought I'd see a Finals
were the center would be Kevin Garnett and the power forward would be
James Posey. I was born too soon. I'd like taking my chances against
Posey down there, he'd be setting right next to Doc Rivers very
quickly. But you know, it's a smaller league right now so it's nice to
see big guys.
Q: On questions about Love's size:
McHale: Antonio McDyess plays center for Detroit, they had the best
record. Right now, Kevin (Garnett) finishes the game at five (for
Boston) and James Posey at 6-6 at the four. (The Lakers) play
(Vladimir) Radmanovic at the four a lot when they have (Pau) Gasol at
the five and (Phil Jackson) isn't happy with what (Lamar) Odom's doing.
And some of the guys who are 6-10 in our league, might as well be 6-6.
Nothing is more overrated, in my opinion, than your height, if you're
over a certain height. ... What I heard was the Lakers' length was
going to overwhelm the Celtics, how's that working out? Yeah, it's
overrated. Those are big kids. Would you be asking me that if instead
of being 6-9 1/2 he was 6-10 1/2? So that inch, that's going to throw
everything into a completely different light? Again, Al (Jefferson's)
6-9 but Al scores against guys 7-2 all the time. Does Al look 6-9 when
he plays? No. It's all relative to a lot of stuff. (If) they're
basketball players, they're basketball players.
French center Alexis Ajinca
Q: On if he can play in the NBA:
Ajinca: I feel I can play (in the) NBA. But I really need some weight.
Q: On how he played Tuesday:
Ajinca: I think I played good. I showed I can run and shoot the three or two. I think I played good today.
Q: On how many teams he is working out for:
Ajinca: I've got 15 workouts.
Q: On how many times he has been to the United States:
Ajinca: This is my fourth time.
Q: On how he feels his game is progressing:
Ajinca: I feel I learn every day because playing against big guys that are the same age as me (is) good for me.
Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan
Q: On why he thinks his draft stock has improved in recent weeks:
Jordan: Workouts are going well, I mean, they are going great. The work
that I put in after the tournament its working out, but the past six
seven weeks, just working hard everyday, just trying to get better is
helping me move up I guess.
Q: On how he prepares for pre-draft workouts:
Jordan: Just rest, but at the same time you have to be in shape, you
have to be willing to bump a little bit. You have to be able to go up
and down when you are tired. You have to be mentally tough and push it
so you can finish the workout and not be sluggish (at the end).
Q: On the differences between the college and the pro game:
Jordan: (The NBA's) a lot more physical. You can play a lot more
physical because at the college level they don't let you bump as much.
But here they kind of like that. They let you do it. Its pretty much
the physicality and you have to be mentally ready.
Q: On what he can bring to the Wolves:
Jordan: Athleticism, rebounding, just a defensive force.
Ohio State center Kosta Koufos
Q: On what he tried to show on the court.
Koufos: I just tried to show as much as possible. I just wanted to play
hard and go after it. Just get up and down the court, that's about it.
Q: On the differences between pre-draft workouts for different teams:
Koufos: They do pretty much the same things. A lot of shooting, a lot
of 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 and such. Some teams mix in different
things as others do as well.
Q: On if he is open to playing for any NBA team:
Koufos: I'm just going to any team that wants me. I'm just going to go out and try my best and enjoy it.
Q: On how he would fit in with the Wolves: Koufos: They are
an up-tempo team, a very young team as well, I feel like I could fit in
with the up-tempo style. God blessed me with this opportunity and I'm
just making the best of it.
Q: On how playing one year at Ohio State helped him improve his game:
Koufos: Coach (Thad) Matta helped me a lot. I got mentally tougher (and) physically tougher. That one year did help me a lot.
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