<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Timberwolves didn't have much luck last season. They're getting some now. Saturday marked the deadline for early entrants to declare themselves eligible for the NBA draft, and a flood of players took advantage. This year's draft appears deeper than usual. That sets up well for the Wolves, who missed the playoffs and will pick 14th overall unless they get lucky in the draft lottery. Pingpong balls will be drawn May 24 to determine the order for the draft held June 28 in New York. Spurred by the possibility of an NBA age minimum and what previously looked like a weak draft, about 70 early entrants officially had declared for the draft as of Friday. More entrants were expected by the deadline to declare, 11 p.m. Saturday. Add them to the crop of college seniors and international players already available, and it's easy to see why the Wolves are optimistic. "I feel like there's going to be a pretty good group," Wolves general manager Jim Stack said. "We're hoping to move up in the lottery, but if we don't, we feel like we're still going to get a pretty good player." The organization's top priority remains the hiring of a coach. With that in mind, it's difficult to pin down the details of how the front office will approach the draft. No one can say for sure whether the team will try to draft the best available player or attempt to fill a need. The Wolves simply aren't focused on the draft right now. Plans will take shape in the coming weeks, particularly after a coach is hired. Still, it's intriguing to take a look at the options. Wake Forest sophomore point guard Chris Paul, Illinois junior point guard Deron Williams and North Carolina freshman forward Marvin Williams are expected to be drafted in the top five. High school seniors such as Gerald Green of Texas and Martell Webster of Washington also could be lottery picks. International players and college seniors thicken the broth. "I think at 14, you're maybe going to get a better player than typically is there with the 14th pick," said Chris Monter, a longtime draft analyst and the publisher of Monter Draft News.</div> Source
