Basketball: It's far from over for Penney in US

Kirk Penney may not have found a suitor via American basketball's major meat market, but the New Zealand guard is still on the wanted list.

Within minutes of being ignored at the annual NBA draft in the United States, Penney was approached by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who invited him to attend their summer league.

American high school sensation LeBron James was the hit of the draft, but foreign players made the biggest impact with a record 21 being selected in the annual lottery.

Minnesota's advance was some consolation for Penney, who was overlooked by NBA teams when they picked up 58 players on the draft.

For the 1.96m shooting guard, a standout during four years with the University of Wisconsin and an influential member of the Tall Blacks as they finished fourth at last year's world championships, Minnesota's interest was a relief.

"They said they had wanted to take me with their 55th pick, but didn't," the 22-year-old said.

"Instead, they're bringing me into camp and I'm playing for them in summer league.

"The bonus for me is they didn't draft a shooting guard and they need one."

The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets also approached Penney after the draft was completed, but he turned them down because he recognised his best chance of making a team roster was with the Timberwolves.

While unwanted in the first and second-round draft, Penney's prospects of becoming just the second New Zealander after Sean Marks to play in the NBA were not irreparably harmed.

He now has the opportunity to impress Minnesota officials enough to include him on their roster.

Because he wasn't drafted, Penney can try out for teams of his choice, giving him some freedom denied draftees.

"It sounds bizarre, but this is a blessing in disguise," Penney said.

The draft began as expected with the Cleveland Cavaliers making James the No 1 selection.

But it quickly took on an international flavour when the Detroit Pistons used the second overall pick to take Drako Milicic, making the Serb the highest- drafted European in NBA history.

A 2.02m, 109kg dunking and marketing machine, James is considered basketball's next big thing.

Nike certainly believes in the hype swirling around the 18-year-old from St Vincent-St Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, signing him to a US$90 million ($154.7 million) endorsement deal.