(ANOTHER) OPEN LETTER TO KEVIN MCHALE

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"O.J. Mayo, please, he'll never be a star...I hope"

To: Kevin McHale

From: ESPNTheMag.Com

Dear Kevin,

We wrote to you on the day of the NBA Draft last week, urging you to take O.J. Mayo or Michael Beasley. When Beasley was drafted by the Miami Heat at No. 2, we held our collective breath that you would do the right thing. And you did. At least it appeared for few hours that you had. T'Wolves fans should have known better.

Like a loose thread on one of your many sweaters, the draft began to unravel in the second round. For the record, we're fine with the pick of center Nikola Pekovic at No. 31, as there was a ton of interest surrounding him. However, three selections later there were a bunch of quality players available including Chris Douglas-Roberts, DeAndre Jordan and Bill Walker (O.J. Mayo's former teammate) all of whom were 1st round selections in most mock drafts.

Instead, you chose to give Mario Chalmers to the Heat in exchange for two future 2nd round picks and cash. Given your previous history of drafting in the 2nd round (a quick recap: not good), you essentially gift-wrapped a potential quality point guard for cash and two picks that probably won't ever play in the NBA. Why not take a chance on DeAndre Jordan, who was projected to be a top-10 pick and instead fell into your lap at No. 34? You taught KG some post moves, why not tutor DeAndre in the same vein?

But the real kicker came after the clock had struck midnight. At the T'Wolves Draft party rumors were circling that a big deal was in place, maybe involving the coveted Michael Beasley. Instead the O.J. Mayo for Kevin Love deal was announced.

Reaction to this deal has been decidedly mixed by analysts and while we are willing to wait a year or so before we judge, we're not confident it will come out in your favor. Love should be solid and Mike Miller will be a good addition, but O.J. Mayo appears to have the star potential that Love doesn't.

Another problem with the trade is that it leaves Randy Foye as the only point guard under contract and he has had his fair share of injuries.

After the Ray Allen for Marbury swap in 1996 and the recent Brandon Roy for Randy Foye deal in '06, you've kind of lost the benefit of the doubt with T'Wolves fans.

The current line-up (projected): Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Corey Brewer, Kevin Love, and Al Jefferson (with Rashad McCants as the 6th man) is not a bad one, but it could have been made much better by a couple different decisions.

For those scoring at home, the T'Wolves potential line-up next year could have been: O.J. Mayo, Brandon Roy, Josh Howard, Al Jefferson, and DeAndre Jordan. Yes, Jordan is very young and Josh Howard has had some issues off the court, but that is a very good nucleus of athletic, young players.

"Let's build it" is the T'Wolves new slogan. Let's hope that you have built enough around Al Jefferson to be making the decisions again at the '09 draft.

Only time will tell.

ESPNTheMag.com

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