"David Kahn should send Nikola Pekovic a gift this morning. Maybe a dessert. Whatever Serbian bouncers wearing skull tattoos on their arms enjoy after a big meal, like the bones of their forefathers' enemies.

Pekovic, now the Wolves' unquestioned starting center, dominated his matchup with could-have-been Wolf DeMarcus Cousins on Tuesday, giving Minnesotans temporary respite from regret. Those who don't overreact to individual games should still groan every time they remember the night of June 24, 2010, when Kahn, the Wolves' basketball boss, bought a ticket to the light rail instead of taking a ride on the crazy train.

At first, the debate over the fourth pick in the 2010 draft revolved around basketball philosophy. Would you rather have a polished wing or a promising but immature center? In the last two years, it has become a question of character. Would you rather have a nice guy who plays horribly or an immense talent who might get his coach fired?

Kahn chose Syracuse wing Wes Johnson over Cousins, the young center from Kentucky. Johnson was safe. Cousins is becoming the Randy Moss of that draft."