Timberwolves: 5 players to watch in the 2018 NCAA Tournament

BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 23: Keita Bates-Diop #33. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 23: Keita Bates-Diop #33. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 23: Keita Bates-Diop #33. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 23: Keita Bates-Diop #33. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

As of now, the Minnesota Timberwolves will hold Oklahoma City’s first-round pick in the upcoming draft. March Madness is set to begin, so it’s time to brush up on your potential future Wolves…

With the NCAA tournament beginning Thursday, it’s a good time to remind everyone of the draft particulars as it relates to the Timberwolves.

If the Timberwolves were to miss the playoffs and Oklahoma City were to make the postseason, Minnesota would have two first-round picks, plus their own second-rounder. The lottery-protected pick that is currently owned by Minnesota would then go to the Atlanta Hawks because of the disastrous Adreian Payne trade from three years ago.

The Oklahoma City’s pick was acquired via Utah in the trade that sent beloved point guard Ricky Rubio to the Utah Jazz over the summer. If the Thunder were to miss the playoffs, then Minnesota would receive the pick next season instead.

For this article, I’m obviously only going to include players that are playing in March Madness. (Chandlers Hutchinson, whom could be a real possibility for the Wolves, won’t be on this list because Boise State is participating in the NIT.)

Here’s a list of five players to keep an eye on throughout this year’s Tournament.