NBA Draft: 5 options for the Minnesota Timberwolves at pick No. 20

2. Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State

Recently, I wrote an article that compared Keita Bates-Diop’s physical profile to that of the Golden State Warriors’ (and former Michigan State Spartan) Draymond Green. There are plenty of differences, namely in the steal and rebound rates at the college level, but the projection is there.

Here’s an excerpt:

"Bates-Diop is the prototypical, switchable player in today’s NBA. The ability and know-how is there to step in and become a virtual lock-down defender from from early in his pro career. Where the Ohio State alum’s career deviates from Green’s own Big Ten career at Michigan State, however, is in some of the peripheral numbers. Green was a far superior rebounder (career college rebound rate of 18 percent compared to 13.2 percent for Bates-Diop) and distributor (career college assist rate of 24.6 percent compared to Bates-Diop’s 9.3). His higher steal rate also suggests better awareness and positioning on defense (3 percent versus 1.5), although Bates-Diop did have a better block rate than Green."

Again, we’re talking about switchability and versatility, and Bates-Diop will have that at the next level. His size/wingspan/agility combination is rare, and if he can pick up NBA defensive concepts in short order, he’ll be in a good spot.

The only reason that he doesn’t slot in at No. 1 on this list is that he’ll turn 23 before the end of his rookie season, and the player that beat him out has a higher ceiling and projects out better. The lack of steals and rebounds from Bates-Diop suggest that he’d have some quick learning to do in order to reach something resembling Green’s level (read: All-Star) as a professional.

But make no mistake, Bates-Diop would be a help in the Wolves’ rotation almost immediately. And if he’s on the board and MInnesota doesn’t take him, someone will, and in short order.