The Skinny: Collins and Cardinal

With all the attention drawn to Mike Miller and Kevin Love in the late-night draft day exchange between Minnesota and Memphis, it's easy to forget that the Wolves acquired a few other pieces in the blockbuster, eight-player trade.

For starters, Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale was able to rid the Wolves of Marko Jaric's contract (owed $21 million over three years) and deal away Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner in the process - moves that give Minnesota considerably more financial flexibility moving forward.

Minnesota also gained the services of two NBA veterans in the deal. One is a former Pac-10 All American who ranks No. 1 in school history in field goal percentage. The other is a former Big Ten standout that is currently the school's career steals record holder.

Stanford alum Jason Collins - who shot 60.8 percent while a Cardinal - and Purdue alum Brian Cardinal - who recorded 259 steals in four seasons as a Boilermaker - are the two other intriguing prospects acquired in the deal.

While neither player has been as dominant in the pros as they were at the collegiate level, both have proven to be more-than-capable role players in the NBA.

Collins, who was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, then traded along with Richard Jefferson to New Jersey on draft night, played a key role in helping the Nets to their first NBA Finals appearance ever in his rookie season (an eventual four-game sweep to Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers).

In his second season, Collins was anointed as New Jersey's starting center, starting 66 games and averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest while helping the Nets return to the Finals (this time falling in the championship round to the San Antonio Spurs in six games). The defensive impact Collins provided on a nightly basis didn't go unnoticed by Nets brass. For his efforts the Northridge, California native received a five year, 25 million dollar contract extension with New Jersey.

After starting his NBA career by playing for one team (the Nets) for seven years, you couldn't blame Collins if he assumed he'd end his career in New Jersey (or Brooklyn). Collins, however, found out all about the business side of the NBA in 2008 when he was traded not once, but twice. On Feb. 4, Collins - who's twin brother Jarron plays for the Utah Jazz - was shipped with cash consideration to the Grizzlies for Stromile Swift.

Then came his draft night shipment to the Wolves, his second change of address in five months.

Right now, Cardinal is likely most recognized for the large contract he received from Memphis in 2004 (7 years, $45 million), but the former Boilermaker was once an elite Big Ten player. Competing under coach Gene Keady at Purdue from 1996-2000, Cardinal - who averaged 14 points per game his senior season in West Lafayette - was nicknamed "The Janitor" because he did all the dirty work for the Boilermakers.

The Detroit Pistons selected Cardinal in the second round of the 2000 draft, but he only played 23 games in two seasons in Motown before being traded to Washington in the Jerry Stackhouse-Richard Hamilton exchange.

After being waived by the Wizards after five games and finishing 2002-03 in Spain, Cardinal signed with Golden State in 2003-04 and enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 10 points and four rebounds per game.

For a guy who averaged under two points and one rebound per game over his first three NBA seasons, this was quite a jump. Cardinal's improvement didn't go unnoticed as he was signed as a free agent by Memphis in 2004.

While he posted similar numbers in his first year with the Grizzles (9 and four in 25 minutes of work) and helped lead Memphis to the playoffs, his numbers declined drastically each of the next three seasons (averaging four points per game in 11 minutes of action).

In 37 games played for Memphis last season the Tolono, Illinois, native averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12 minutes per contest. It should be noted, however, that the 6-8, 245 pound Cardinal - who holds a career 41 percent field goal percentage - shot 51 percent from the floor last season.

The bottom line here is that Collins (defense and rebounding) and Cardinal (spot up shooting) both have skills that might come in handy for Al Jefferson and Co. this coming season ... Not to mention their history of positivity in the locker room. Perhaps they shouldn't be thought of as simple throw-ins to the Love and Miller trade? We'll soon see.