Morning Report: Wolves at NBA draft’s door

The Minnesota Timberwolves have managed to acquire four first-round picks in tonight's NBA draft, including Nos. 5 and No. 6.

Conventional wisdom holds that Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet, Arizona State's James Harden and Memphis' Tyreke Evans will be the first four players chosen.

Minnesota is said to covet Spanish teenager Ricky Rubio, but also would like to swing a deal with picks Nos. 18 and 28 to move up and grab Thabeet.

David Kahn, Minnesota's president of basketball operations, is keeping his strategy to himself, naturally, by claiming he doesn't have one.

"Just when I think I have a pretty good idea," he told the Minneapolis Star, "it changes one hour later."

What's in a name? LenDale White and Chris Johnson, running backs for the Tennessee Titans, have labeled themselves Smash and Dash.

Coach Jeff Fisher had a different idea for a nickname:

"Dumb and dumber," the coach deadpanned.

Around the Horn. LSU's 11-4 win over Texas last night in the College World Series championship ended the Longhorns' dramatic tournament.

Just to get to the CWS in Omaha, the Horns won the longest game in NCAA history, beating Boston College in 25 innings, and then beat Army with a walk-off grand slam.

The Longhorns had two walk-off wins in Omaha and rallied from six runs down for another victory.

Texas came back to tie the score last night after falling behind 4-0 in the first but would score no more.

The Tigers "are the best team we've played by far," Texas coach Augie Garrido said. "We didn't lose it. They won it. It was a well-deserved championship."

Snow in June? The NHL draft takes place tomorrow night at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the New York Islanders have the No. 1 pick.

Which puts former Flyers goaltender and current Isles general manager Garth Snow in the bull's-eye.

E.J. McGuire, the former Flyers assistant who now is director of NHL Central Scouting, believes the Islanders will go with John Tavares, the top scorer in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights. Tavares was the MVP as Canada won the gold medal at the World Junior Championship.

"It will sound provincial, but I will say it will be John Tavares," McGuire told The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. "He's a complete player."

Tavares is the top-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have the No. 2 pick and most likely will take 6-foot-6 Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, rated the No. 1 European-born skater by Central Scouting.

The Flyers have the 21st overall pick.