What were the Timberwolves thinking not drafting Josh Howard?

[Timberwolf]

Last night, Josh Howard beat the crap out of the Timberwolves as they got routed by the Mavericks at Dallas. This begs me this question and I am going to constantly talk about this till the day I die. What the hell was Kevin McHale thinking bypassing Howard for this freaking stiff who was not ready to play in the NBA in Doodie Ebi (that's how David Stern pronounced Nududi Ebi when the Timberwolves maded that selection on draft night)? This was beyond stupid. I hated it the minute that it was announced. I couldn't believe it. Just what McHale was thinking. Was he smoking weed or something? This never made sense. I never heard of Ebi at all till the selection was made. It's one thing to make that pick when scouts, assistant GMs, and publications was hyping Ebi, but no one talked about him at all ever throughout workouts and stuff. Why would you take a HS player that no one heard of over a proven college player like Josh Howard? This bypassment of Howard just shows you how inept Kevin McHale has been as the GM of my favorite basketball team. I just get mad talking about this. Josh Howard is not only going to be a good player, but he is going to be a superstar in this league for years to come. I love watching him. This bypassing of Howard for Ebi is as dumb as bypass Shawn Marion and bypassing Ron Artest for Wally Sczerbiak and Steve Nash for Stephon Marbury. In the real world, you make moves like that and it fails, you lose your job as CEO. Apparently if you work for the Timberwolves or if you are in Glen Taylor's circle like McHale is (they both went to the University of Minnesota), you can stay on no matter how much you screw up at your job. Is it any wonder why the Wolves are not in the same class as the Spurs, Mavericks, Pistons, and the Suns? Is it any wonder why Kevin Garnett is so disgruntled with this team? Is it any wonder why this team will likely be a non-playoff team or a eighth seed at best being swept in 4 games?

Oh and if you think Josh Howard is not going to be motivated to play against the Wolves after being bypassed for Ebi, then you are kidding yourself. I would feel insulted too if I was him after being the best player at Wake Forest yet be bypassed for a high-schooler who has not proven anything in basketball.

I really hope McHale has the dignity to resign after this season. I still think he should be gone and he should be gone after the season was over last year.

I leave you with this quote by Kevin Garnett after the game last night:

"Josh has made unbelievable strides," Garnett said. "It's not easy to come into this league and be respected. He not only has done that, but he has a style that works for him.

"I think we had a chance to get Josh Howard. Ask [Kevin] McHale about that one."

[lal4l]

TIm SUPERSTAR might be over doing it....

[Timberwolf]

Josh may not be very good now, but I think he has the making to be a superstar.

[brandonwarne52]

Hindsight is 20/20. Why didn't the Piston's draft Carmelo. Who the F knows?

[Timberwolf]

I don't want to hear about 20/20 hindsight stuff, Brandon. Josh Howard has played so well at Wake Forest. He was their best player for God's sake. It was a no-brainer. I would have definitely went with this guy over a high-schooler anyday. I am not a big fan of high-schoolers entering the NBA to begin with. It's one thing if Ebi was really really good or if he had any hype the way Lebron or even Kwame Brown had, then I would have understood why Kevin McHale drafted Ebi, but the point is NO ONE ever heard of Ebi ever untill he came up. I would have drafted any proven college player before a project period.

I thought the Pistons bypassing Melo, Wade, or Bosh for Darko was pretty stupid BTW long when Darko was selected. I am not a believer in drafting international guys or high-schooler guys this early unless he is very, very good like Lebron.

[Mr. Met on Pot]

Do you really wanna know why they didn't draft him TW?............................................... ....I think you have to know this.......................it's extremely important......................................... ....................Josh.....Howard........can't.. ...reeeaaaadddd...I'm sorry you had to find out this way :banana:

(Mr. Met on Pot loving these advanced smileys)

Seriously, like the other guy said, who knows, maybe it just wasn't meant to be :tongue:

[Timberwolf]

Mr Met: This has nothing to do with hindsight or it wasn't meant to be stuff. The point is that you never draft a high school project over a proven college basketball player especially if you never heard of a guy. I never heard of Ebi in my life. When David Stern mispronounced his name in the draft for the Timberwolves draft selection, I said what the hell is this. I did not think it was a time to go take a risk on a high school project when we lost so many draft picks thanks to signing Joe Smith to an illegal contract several years ago.