Minnesota Timberwolves: Will Justin Patton see the floor in 2017?
The Timberwolves somehow managed to talk their way into acquiring a draft pick in their Jimmy Butler trade on draft night. So how likely is it we’ll see new draftee Justin Patton on the floor this season?
Justin Patton was an impressive player in college; impressive enough to play just one season for Creighton before being selected with the 16th pick in this year’s draft.
However, Patton has some competition ahead of him at center, and the Timberwolves new G-League team Iowa Wolves may spell less NBA court time than the 7-foot big man would like.
On the Iowa Wolves front, its hard to believe the Timberwolves would purchase a team and not use it to develop any of its existing roster. However, only two Timberwolves are eligible to be sent on assignment, without first signing off.
Tyus Jones, who will be in his third season, is in his final year of eligibility, and rookie Justin Patton is the other Wolf who could be sent to Iowa.
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Some time at the Iowa Wolves might do Patton well, as he adjusts to a non-college level of basketball, and once he builds confidence he could be sent up to the Timberwolves.
I’m sure a lot of Timberwolves fans are hoping Patton proves himself NBA-ready during the Summer League, and finds himself strengthening our bench from day one. If the 36th pick in the draft can win Rookie of the Year, anything is possible.
Patton averaged 12.9 points in 25.3 minutes a game throughout his one college season. If these stats could translate to the NBA, Patton shouldn’t have too much of a problem cementing himself as a member of the Timberwolves bench.
However, the Timberwolves aren’t short of big-men. Karl-Anthony Towns, Cole Aldrich, Gorgui Dieng and Adreian Payne all currently have their names on the roster. Payne’s upcoming free agency will most likely change this, as the Timberwolves have already declined his team option.
The Timberwolves recently waived Jordan Hill from the roster, after he averaged 1.7 points in 6.7 minutes through just seven appearances for the Timberwolves. This tells me that at the very least, Tom Thibodeau plans on playing Justin Patton in ‘Hill minutes’, and hopefully more.
https://twitter.com/JustinPatton17/status/879545322074251264
Open minutes on the Timberwolves roster stemming from the waiving of Hill, and the almost-certain departure of Payne, should see Patton take the floor in a Timberwolves jersey next season.
Should the Timberwolves free agency period go to plan, we should have a stronger bench next season, and be able to rely on it more than last. This would mean more minutes for the bench players as our starters get a rest.
This would likely result in Patton seeing more minutes, as Thibodeau will want to develop him, whilst a strong group of surrounding players will mean the Timberwolves bench would still be competitive and reliable.
Justin Patton proved himself a solid contributor in college, and I hope to see him as a stable member of the Timberwolves’ bench. After ranking dead-last in the league for a number of bench statistics last season, its fair to say the Timberwolves will be looking everywhere for some solid contributors.
Next: Top areas of need for Timberwolves in free agency
If he steps his game up as well as his swag, Justin Patton may just find himself a stable member of the Timberwolves bench.