Substitute Timberwolves Vice President Kevin McHale in the Marlon Brando role in "On the Waterfront." Plop him in the back seat of that old taxi next to NBA Commissioner David Stern, filling in for Rod Steiger. Paint the whole scene in lustrous, 1950s black-and-white and, why, it's remarkable how well one of the most famous speeches in movie history still works.

"Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and said, 'Kid, this ain't your night.' . . . You remember that? 'This ain't your night.' My night?! . . . I coulda been a contender."

It wasn't the Wolves' night Wednesday. Almost every other team got its moment to shine in the NBA draft's first round.

But the Wolves had to wait until No. 52, late in round two, to select Michigan State point guard Marcus Taylor.

By that time, Stern had flipped the keys to deputy commish Russ Granik. TNT mouth Charles Barkley was nodding off or scouting the stands at Madison Square Garden for drinking buddies. It was last call, the lights were coming up and only then were the Wolves getting asked to dance.