The next Minnesota Timberwolves draft prospect profile in our ongoing series is University of Miami (FL) guard Lonnie Walker IV.
In recapping the mock drafts from around the internet last week, Lonnie Walker IV was a name connected to the Timberwolves by NBADraft.net. Let’s take a look at whether or not the freshman guard from Miami could be a fit.
Walker was a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school and arrived to the Hurricanes with great fanfare. Based on those standards, his one and only season as a ‘Cane was certainly underwhelming.
The 6′-4″ guard averaged just 11.5 points per game while shooting only 41.5 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc during his freshman season.
The ceiling is obviously massive, as Walker’s athleticism and size (a 6’-10″ wingspan to go along with his decent height for a shooting guard) profile fits the mold of what we’ve come to expect when hearing the phrases “potential” and “upside”. And paired with his substandard numbers at Miami, that’s what whichever NBA team that selects Walker in the draft will hang its hat on.
Walker looks the part of an NBA guard, especially when slashing and finishing at the rim. His jump-shot looks good, too, it just didn’t go in often enough in college.
Outside of production in his lone year at Miami, Walker’s weaknesses are largely related to his ball-handling and shot creation — vital for two-guards in today’s NBA.
Take a look at the below highlight video. His strengths (slashing/cutting, finishing at the rim, shooting off the dribble) are on full display, and there are some legitimately impressive clips in this montage.
But pay attention to his ball-handling as well; it appears a bit loose at times and will need to be tightened if he is going to attack effectively off the dribble in the NBA.
Doesn’t the handle look a bit like Andrew Wiggins coming out of Kansas? The two are not dissimilar as prospects; size is the main difference between the two when it comes to measurables and skills. Wiggins obviously put up more impressive numbers as a college freshman, but the ceilings don’t appear to be all that far apart.
Walker’s wingspan and athletic ability will likely be enough to make him a fringe lottery pick, and it would be a mild surprise if he’s on the board at No. 20. But if he is, don’t be shocked to see the Wolves move their pick to a team that may be enamored with Walker’s upside. It’s easy to see Tom Thibodeau wanting to avoid a project at the shooting guard spot when rounding out his roster.
Next: 5 things the Timberwolves need this offseason
The pick will surely be worth more on the trade market than it might be if Thibodeau and the Wolves use it on what would be a raw backup to Wiggins and Jimmy Butler who would see extremely limited minutes as a rookie.