Minnesota Timberwolves Mock Draft: Final pre-lottery edition 3.0

The final Mock Draft before the lottery is here and Timberwolves’ fans are really going to enjoy this one.

With the NBA Lottery only one day away, Dunking With Wolves rolls out their final Timberwolves Mock Draft of the pre-lottery season.

This will be the third edition of the Mock Draft and Timberwolves fans are going to enjoy how this one turned out.

In the first edition, we saw the Wolves slipping to the eighth pick before standing pat at sixth overall in the second edition.

More from Dunking with Wolves

In a fitting way to end the pre-lottery mock drafts, the Timberwolves come full circle and jump up into the top three this time.

I promise I only hit the ESPN “Play Lottery” button once and the results that you are about to see is what truly played out.

However, I’d be lying if I didn’t let you know that I was having an internal debate about whether or not I should hit the “Play Lottery” button more than once in order to get the Timberwolves into the top three. Luckily, I didn’t have to and am able to keep what little dignity I have left.

The top of the draft is getting harder and harder to predict as there appears to be a more competitive battle for the second best player than anyone could have guessed.

De’Aaron Fox is wowing scouts as they dive deeper into his film and has even passed Lonzo Ball on some team’s big boards.

That may be good for the Timberwolves if they stand pat in the lottery but for this exercise, it complicates their decision even more.

Justin Jackson. 14. player. 110. In this projection, the Heat are torn between taking a huge gamble on Harry Giles’ health or going with the guy with a lower ceiling but higher floor in Justin Jackson. They decided to select Jackson, who will provide a great boost to their offense. Jackson and <a rel=. SF. North Carolina

73. OG Anunoby is telling anybody who will listen that he is going to be a lock down defender. And he’s probably right. Anunoby has all the tools to become one of the next great perimeter defenders but it’s his offense that has a lot of question marks. Denver will allow Anunoby time to work on his offensive game and heal his ACL since they have holdovers <a rel=. SF. Indiana. OG Anunoby. 13. player

C. Texas. Jarrett Allen. 12. player. 64. Jarrett Allen is a raw center prospect out of the university of Texas. He will be able to learn behind one of the top big men in the NBA, <a rel=

170. The Charlotte Hornets get a complimentary piece to pair with <a rel=. PG. France. Frank Ntilikina. 11. player

67. Lauri Markkanen slips to 10th in this mock draft, which is probably a better place for him based on sheer talent alone. Markkanen can stretch the floor and will be a great compliment to Willey Cauley-Stein on both ends of the floor. Markkanen is a young player and should be able to continue to develop other areas of his game such as his strength and rebounding.. PF. Arizona. Lauri Markkanen. 10. player

Gonzaga. Zach Collins. 9. player. 79. Zach Collins played limited minutes at Gonzaga but was extremely efficient in those minutes. Expect a similar situation in Dallas as Collins will be able to come in and play behind <a rel=. PF

The Sacramento Kings acquired this pick from the New Orleans Pelicans in the <a rel=. SF. Duke. Jayson Tatum. 8. player. 67

Dennis Smith Jr.. 7. player. 27. Dennis Smith Jr has the potential to be a dynamic playmaker, especially for the seventh pick in the draft. He is a great scorer with excellent athletic ability. Smith would provide another good young player next to Porzingis for Knicks fans to get excited about.. PG. North Carolina St.

Florida St.. Jonathan Isaac. 6. player. 38. The Magic slip to sixth, which means that the Timberwolves jump into the top three. This a disappointing fall for Orlando but they still get a great player in Jonathan Isaac. Isaac should be able to play next to <a rel=. SF/ PF

Malik Monk. 5. player. 93. This is actually the Lakers pick which is only top three protected and therefore goes to Philadelphia. Malik Monk is the best scorer in the draft, even at 6-foot-3. He will give the 76ers a great boost on offense and pairs well with their first pick in this round (hint, hint). Suddenly, things are looking up in Philadelphia.. SG. Kentucky

Josh Jackson. 4. player. 18. Poor Boston, they fall all the way from number one to number four. That means there will be quite a shakeup in the top three. Fortunately for Boston, they are able to still draft a big time talent in Jackson. Jackson should fit in well with Boston giving them another guy who projects as a top defender and playmaker.. SF. Kansas

De'Aaron Fox. 3. player. 93. This is the 76ers original pick which is why the get to keep it at number three. Philadelphia decides to go with De’Aaron Fox who has been rising up draft boards since the college season ended. Fox is lightning quick and has elite ballhandling skills. He would be a great fit and spark to the 76ers.. PG. Kentucky

Lonzo Ball. 2. player. 86. The Timberwolves jump from six to number two in the mock draft. They end up selecting UCLA’s Lonzo Ball. I’ve said all along that I’m skeptical of Ball because I’m worried he will bolt to Los Angeles the first chance he gets. However, the Timberwolves are unable to pass up Ball as he provides the best combination of talent and fit. Ball will be able to play alongside Rubio and any of the other point guards in Minnesota.. PG. UCLA

Washington. Markelle Fultz. 1. player. 66. Once again, the Phoenix Suns with the lottery. They select Markelle Fultz, the stud freshman out of Washington. Fultz and <a rel=. PG

Thank you all for tuning in to the final Timberwolves Mock Draft.

Next: Pros/cons of drafting Malik Monk

Stay tuned for more mock drafts down the road as we find out the actual draft positions of the lottery teams and more information on the draft prospects themselves.