Williams and Kanter work out with Wolves

MINNEAPOLIS — The NBA Draft is a week away, and there's as much mystery as ever surrounding what the Timberwolves will do with their two first-round picks.
 
They've got the No. 2 and No. 20 selections in the first round of next Thursday night's draft, and whether they'll keep both picks, trade one or find some other creative way of packaging their assets will largely depend on what they learn about the draft candidates at a series of workouts they're holding at Target Center this month.
 
On Thursday they held two separate workouts that featured two of the top prospects in the draft — Arizona forward Derrick Wiliams participated in the afternoon session, while center Enes Kanter was on the court in the morning.
 
Williams, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward, enhanced his draft stock with a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament this spring, leading some observers to predict he might be taken with the first overall pick by Cleveland. But if the Cavaliers go with Duke guard Kyrie Irving, Williams will be there for the Wolves, and he's certainly confident that Minnesota will take him – after all, he hasn't worked out for any NBA teams except the Cavs and Wolves.
 
After Thursday's afternoon session, Williams said he's not afraid to come to a franchise that's been on such a long losing streak.
 
"I want to be an impact player, and just try to win more games. It's not about winning 40 more games the next season, it's about each year, getting better, winning 10 more games each season, and I think I can help this team win more games than they won last season," Williams said.
 
Despite playing power forward in college, Williams said he's been trying to show NBA scouts that he's versatile enough to play the 3 or small forward at the NBA level if needed.
 
"A lot of people are saying I have the size to play the 4, and I have the quickness to play a 3, so either way it's going to be a mismatch," he said. "I think I can use that at the next level, since the floor is spread — it's not like college where you can play zone and sit in the paint the whole time. So whether I play the 4 or not, it really doesn’t matter — I just want to help the team in whatever way possible, and whatever the team needs."
 
The 19-year-old Kanter left his native Turkey to enroll at Kentucky, only to be ruled ineligible for having been paid to play for his club team. Thus, he hasn't had a chance to play in nearly a year, and NBA teams haven't had a chance to scout him, making the leadup to the draft an important feeling-out process for both sides.
 
"I came here to show myself, and I think I did a good job," Kanter said after Thursday's workout. "I try to show I'm in shape because I didn't play (for) almost eight months, nine months. So I try to show Minnesota I didn't lose anything."
 
Timberwolves assistant general manager Tony Ronzone apparently liked what he saw from Kanter, saying that he's still a possibility for the No. 2 pick, thanks in part to his enthusiasm for the game.
 
"In America, the problem is most big guys don't like playing basketball. He actually likes to play basketball. He's addicted to it," Ronzone said. "When the guys went to get a break, he stayed out there shooting. He wants to be in the gym. You can't keep him out of there."
 
At 6-foot-11 and 260 pounds, Kanter already has the type of body that can hold up in the low post, which could make him and Kevin Love a good inside-outside tandem for the Wolves' front line.
 
"I love to play (with my) back to the basket," Kanter said. "I like toughness. Right now I'm trying to work on my face-up game, my jump shots."
 
Ronzone referred to Kanter as "crafty around the basket" in addition to lauding his size and strength. But he also thanked the center for his willingness to work out with the other prospects on the floor, rather than demanding a separate workout as many high-level picks have done in the past.
 
"I like the fact that he came in here and wanted to work out against guys, which is huge. Because last year with (Derrick) Favors and Wesley (Johnson), they went one-on-zero," Ronzone said. "You want to see him go against guys. That was good. I appreciate him doing that."
 
Kanter said he agreed to do it as much to entertain himself as anything else. "When I work by myself I'm kind of bored with it. I don't have to hide anything. It's fun to play head-to-head."

He also expressed interest in playing with Ricky Rubio, whose pick-and-roll game could thrive with a big man like Kanter. But Rubio's not the only reason Kanter said he'd like to play in Minneapolis.
 
"The city is amazing," he said. "Last night they had some game, a baseball game or something? (The Twins beat the White Sox at Target Field on Wednesday night.) It was amazing — everyone was crazy. It was great."