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Minnesota Timberwolves: Grading the 2010 NBA Draft

By Antoine Bass

Jan 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica (88) dribbles in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) at Target Center. The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica (88) dribbles in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) at Target Center. The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2010 NBA draft seemed as if the Timberwolves were finally heading in the right way.

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the 2010 NBA draft with three first round picks. They held the fourth, 16th, and 23rd picks in this draft.

At the end of the night, the Timberwolves would only walk away with one of those players.

With the fourth overall pick, the Timberwolves selected Wesley Johnson. This would be the player that the Timberwolves didn’t trade away on draft night.

At 16th overall, the Timberwolves drafted  Luke Babbit who they traded away for Martell Webster while also adding Ryan Gomes to the deal as well.

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And with the 23rd overall pick, the Timberwolves selected Trevor Booker, who also got traded for the rights to the 30th and 35th overall picks in the draft.

These picks would eventually turn out to be Lazar Hayward at 30th and Nemanja Bjelica with the 35th pick.

With all the moves and also the talent that was drafted there was only one question left. How did the Timberwolves do in the 2010 NBA draft?

Draft Grade: D-

Looking at it seven years later the Minnesota Timberwolves completely missed on this draft.

The Timberwolves selected Wesley Johnson with the fourth overall pick. At the time it seemed like a perfect fit.

Johnson would be able to give the Timberwolves depth on the wing, and his outside shooting would be a huge upside for Minnesota.

However, Johnson would never turn into the player the Timberwolves wanted him to be. In his two seasons in Minnesota, he averaged 7.7 points per game.

The Timberwolves would eventually trade Johnson for three future second-round picks.

To make things worse, Paul George and Gordon Hayward were chosen at the 9th and 10th pick respectively.

George and Hayward would later become all-stars in their careers. Johnson has never averaged double digits in his career.

At 30th overall the Timberwolves selected Lazar Hayward. Seeing as Hayward managed to only play three seasons in the NBA and never averaged more than four points it may be safe to say Timberwolveslves swung and missed on him as well.

Nemanja Bjelica is the player from that draft that still is currently on the Timberwolves roster.

While this may seem great, it’s not, because Bjelica played in his first NBA season in 2015. There isn’t much to be pleased about when you have to wait five years for a player to average 5.7 points for his career.

Also, the Timberwolves chose Paulo Prestes with the 45th overall pick in the draft. To this day, Prestes has not played a single game in the NBA.

Next: The Minnesota Timberwolves All-Time Dream Team

At the time of the 2010 NBA draft, the Timberwolves seemed as if they were winners and heading in the right direction. Though, reflecting on the draft seven years later it’s safe to say this draft was an absolute bust for the Timberwolves.