2008 NBA DRAFT NIGHT COVERAGE

I am at the Lifetime Fitness Center in the Target Center in Downtown Minneapolis for the Minnesota Timberwolves 2008 NBA Draft party. There are many people here at the Lifetime Fitness Center. The Masters Of Ceremonies of the Draft party are Tom Hanneman and Jim Peterson.

The first pick of the 2008 NBA Draft is being made by the Chicago Bulls and they selected Derrick Rose from Memphis. The Miami Heat has the second pick in the draft Micheal Beasley from Kansas State.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the third pick in the draft. There is tension in the air. People are very curious on who the Minnesota Timberwolves will pick here in the draft. With the third pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES SLECT OJ MAYO FROM USC. O J Mayo was one of the more talked about players that were available. O J Mayo only spent one year in college. When the Timberwolves made there pick the place went crazy. A lot of people here thought that the Timberwolves made the correct pick.

The Memphis Grizzles selected UCLA big man Kevin Love. Coming into the draft Kevin Love was another one of those names that you heard a lot and he was all over the country trying out for different teams.

Fred Hoiberg thought that OJ was the total package. He can play both guard spots. OJ Mayo had a great interview with the Timberwolves staff. According to Fred Hoiberge OJ Mayo has been working out with many different teams. Fred thinks that there might be selecting a European player.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the two picks in the second half. With the 31st pick in the draft the Timberwolves drafted Nikola Penkovic from Montengro. He is a 6-11 Center. He played with Partizan Belgrade last year. With the 34th pick the Timberwolves Mario Chalmers from the University of Kansas. He was an early entry player this year. He was a JR this past season. During his years at Kansas he averaged 12.2 points per game. His full name is Almario Vernard Chalmers.

According to the Minneapolis Startribune OJ Mayo got traded to Memphis for Kevin Love. And the Timberwolves traded the draft rights of Mario Chalmers to Miami for two future second round draft picks and cash.

Even though that the Timberwolves got rid OJ Mayo I think that the Timberwolves got who they wanted to get in the end.

This is a report that I found at espn.com. This better explains the draft better then I can do and it explains the trade that took place.

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren't holding on to O.J. Mayo for long.
Two league sources told ESPN.com that the Wolves have reached an agreement in principle with the Memphis Grizzlies that will send the draft rights to Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner to the Grizzlies in return for the draft rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.

The deal is a blockbuster for both teams. ESPN.com reported on Tuesday that Wolves GM Kevin McHale was infatuated with Love, but felt that the team had to select Mayo and use him to acquire more assets. Love, a fundamentally-sound post player, should mesh well with the Timberwolves' budding star Al Jefferson.

2006: Portland acquires the draft rights to No. 2 pick LaMarcus Aldridge and a future second-round pick from Chicago for Viktor Khryapa and the draft rights to No. 4 pick Tyrus Thomas.

1998: Golden State acquires draft rights to No. 4 pick Antawn Jamison for draft rights to No. 5 pick Vince Carter.

1996: Milwaukee trades draft rights to No. 4 pick Stephon Marbury to Minnesota for draft rights to No. 5 pick Ray Allen and a future first-round pick.

1993: Orlando trades draft rights to No. 1 pick Chris Webber to Golden State for draft rights to No. 3 pick Anfernee Hardaway and three future first-round picks.

-- ESPN Research
In addition to landing Love, the Wolves get a sharpshooting swingman in Miller who can help carry the scoring load from the perimeter. The deal is also a financial boon for the Timberwolves, who get the bad contract of Jaric (three years, $21 million) off the books. Walker's and Buckner's contracts are not guaranteed after this season.

Timberwolves fans will likely be reminded of another lottery-swapping move two years ago, when Minnesota selected Brandon Roy, then traded him to Portland for Randy Foye and cash.
Roy went on to become rookie of the year in 2006-07 and an All-Star last season, while Foye has struggled with injuries while showing promise as a floor leader and playmaking perimeter threat.
The Grizzlies get the superstar they wanted in the backcourt in Mayo. They also rid themselves of Cardinal's bad contract (two years, $13 million). The Grizzlies now have a glut of guards on the team with Mayo, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry and Javaris Crittenton.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.