Joe Smith

NEW YORK, December 28 -- The NBA announced today that it has restored the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. This pick had been forfeited by the Timberwolves in December 2000 in connection with the salary cap circumvention case involving the Timberwolves and Joe Smith.

“In light of the other penalties that have been imposed on the Timberwolves, and the team’s conduct since the Smith matter concluded,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern, “we feel it is appropriate to restore the Timberwolves’ first round pick in 2005.”

As a result of the Smith case, the Timberwolves will have forfeited their first round picks in the 2001, 2002, and 2004 NBA Drafts, and paid a fine to the league of $3.5 million.