Declaring for the draft during his junior year; Melo Trimble has an uphill battle in the NBA. Here is the best and worst case scenario’s for him in this upcoming season.
After a few successful years at Maryland, Melo Trimble may struggle to find a spot on an NBA roster. He is a huge reason as to why Maryland was so good these past few years.
Last year Trimble went through the pre-draft process, but backed out before the deadline and returned for one more season. He was an undrafted free agent after declaring for the NBA draft after his junior year.
On Aug.1, 2017 – he signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was expected that he would just become a camp body and not see much time in the preseason – or even make the team for that matter.
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With all that in mind, let’s take a look at the possible best and worst case scenarios for the NBA roster hopeful.
Worst Case Scenario:
With a lot of doubt surrounding Trimble, let’s get the negativity out of the way first. There is only one possible worst-case scenario for a camp body player… and that is not making the team. We’re talking the NBA and the G-League.
Now that the Timberwolves have their own G-League team (Iowa Wolves), it will be important for Minnesota to grab talented players and stash them in Iowa until they are needed. Maybe Trimble can be one of those players, but that’s a scenario coming up.
In the two preseason games Minnesota has played in so far, we have yet to see him step on the court. There is only one game remaining against the Golden State Warriors this Sunday. The belief is that we will continue to see extended minutes for the starters, with some complimentary minutes from the top bench players.
In most cases, we would see more minutes given to some of the players who rarely see action. However, because there are so many new faces and high expectations, we aren’t going to be seeing this because there is chemistry that needs to be built.
Sadly, this means that Trimble will see few minutes in the last game, if any for that matter. Worst case scenario for him is he doesn’t make the G-League or the NBA roster.
Best Case Scenario:
For Trimble himself, the best case scenario is making the Timberwolves roster. However, realistically, the best case would be for the Wolves to sign him to the Iowa Wolves.
I was a huge fan of his game when he was playing for the Terrapins. He was a fantastic scorer who could take over the game. He can hit you from beyond the arc, or take it inside. If he isn’t scoring on you, he’s dishing out some sweet dimes.
Some strengths of his include:
-Defending
-Shooting
-Driving
– Passing
He has a lot of tools to become a solid player in the NBA, but, he does lack size and athleticism that is needed for the NBA level. Which is really the big knock on his game, that holds him back from being a successful player.
Here are some of the stats he had over his three-year career in college.
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
There is no denying that he is a talented player, it’s just whether or not he is fit for the NBA. It would be ideal for him, and the team to send him to Iowa for him to gain some NBA experience. This will allow him to develop, and hopefully end up in the big leagues.
Next: Minnesota's mid-week matchup: Houston Rockets
There iaresome doubts for Jeff Teague’s backup point guard situation. Tyus is capable of playing and the same goes for newly signed Aaron Brooks. However, it looks like the team isn’t completely confident with what they have. This could allow Trimble to gain experience, and if the Wolves see what they like, they could end up allowing him to play in the NBA.