Timberwolves Notes: Towns commercial, draft workouts
By Ben Beecken
As the NBA draft is now just over a week away, the Timberwolves continue to shuttle a wide variety of draft prospects through town for workouts.
We’re officially within 10 days of the 2016 NBA Draft, and the Wolves are continuing to bring in draft prospects. This week, it’s a few likely top-10 selections that will visit Mayo Clinic Square.
Per usual, it’s ESPN 1500 and KSTP’s Darren Wolfson that is providing the scoop for us, and for that we are thankful.
From Sunday:
Also on #Twolves: no Dunn visit date quite locked in yet. But it's coming. Word is the FO is comfortable w/ any of four players at No. 5.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 12, 2016
Another #Twolves note: Cal's Jaylen Brown will workout here next week. Will stop here before heading to NYC. Layden saw Brown already.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 12, 2016
More timely #Twolves nuggets: told Jamal Murray working out here tomorrow. Wolves one of the teams that keeps all workout info. secret.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 12, 2016
And some follow-up notes from Monday:
ICYMI: it's Jamal Murray day at Mayo Clinic Square. He's here for an individual workout, I hear. #twolves
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 13, 2016
Bender's #Twolves workout at Mayo Square is actually Thursday morning... https://t.co/x15xxVmq7P
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 13, 2016
So here we are, just over a week out from the draft, and the top prospects are finally completing their individual workouts for lottery teams. We found out on Monday that Jamal Murray and Buddy Hield both crushed their one-on-none workouts, at least from a long-range shooting perspective.
As we’ve discussed previously here at Dunking With Wolves, Minnesota should be selecting with at least two of Kris Dunn, Dragan Bender, Jamal Murray, and Buddy Hield on the board. Jaylen Brown likely won’t be seriously considered at #5, and will only be a true option if the Timberwolves end up trading back for some reason.
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It’s clear that the Wolves are seriously considering (and perhaps even prefer) trading the fifth pick in part of a larger trade for a star player already in the league, but it remains to be seen if they can get such a deal done. They’re not moving Andrew Wiggins or Karl-Anthony Towns, and will no doubt be reluctant to include the likes of Zach LaVine or Ricky Rubio in any other potential trade.
That said, the idea of trading back could certainly be on the table if they can pick up an asset in the process and still grab a player they like later in the draft. Tom Thibodeau needs to build some depth, and the draft should be one avenue in which he goes about doing just that.
Lastly, Karl-Anthony Towns appeared in yet another television spot, this time an NBA-created spot focusing on this past year’s NBA rookies and the impact that their families had on their respective childhoods and journey to the league.
It’s a cool piece, and kudos to the NBA for putting it together. Also, it’s yet another KAT appearance during the off-season, and those are fun each and every time.
Next: Report: Timberwolves Interested In Jimmy Butler
We’ll have some additional Jimmy Butler-rumor related musings later on Tuesday. In the meantime, enjoy your day and begin getting prepared for Game Six of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.