Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Prospect: Jalen Brunson

Villanova’s Jalen Brunson is projected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick, which means that the two-time national champion should be available when the Minnesota Timberwolves pick at No. 20.

The commander of the formidable Villanova offense is an interesting prospect to consider.

Jalen Brunson, who stands at six-foot-three, won’t impress anyone with his size, and he certainly won’t impress scouts with his 6-3 1/2 wingspan. However, his intelligence, physicality and winning pedigree should have scouts turning their heads.

Along with that, Brunson is as fundamentally sound as any guard in the 2018 draft.

Most of that comes from his high intelligence of the game. His decision-making is through the roof, which, along with his other tangibles, is what makes him such a prolific guard.

Brunson is such an interesting prospect because of his consistency. Over his three years as a Wildcat, you knew what Brunson would bring night in and night out.

Everyone who follows the NBA knows how poorly the Timberwolves shot the three-ball last season. Brunson, who shot close to 41 percent from three last season and 39.3 percent over his career, could come in and help dig the Wolves out of the basement. Although 3-pointers aren’t the centerpiece of his game, Brunson can knock one down when needed.

A major key for Brunson’s shot is his footwork. When finding his 1-2 step rhythm he is able to put more arc on his shot as opposed to his rushed shots that are more on a line. When he puts the ball on the deck, look out. He’s very quick to decide whether to take his defender off the dribble or find an open teammate.

Although he didn’t turn to it often, Brunson showed he is capable of scoring in isolation. Chances are he won’t be asked to play isolation in the league right away. However, it’s good to know he has the ability to do so.

Going back to his intelligence, Brunson is a heck of a playmaker. He understands the situation well and knows when to push the pace or slow down. Brunson always has his head up and is more than willing to advance the ball to an open man in transition. He does so whether it leads to a bucket or not.

Without the ball in his hands, Brunson is still dangerous. He has a knack for finding open spots on the floor and shaking his defender. He never cuts just to cut, it’s always with a purpose. Having a guard with the mindset of getting to the rim opens up offenses so much more. As for Brunson, it shows he isn’t a one-way offensive player; he can score and/or create in different ways.

Brunson has the skills to make cross-court passes with pinpoint accuracy. However, those same skills can also get him into some trouble. Sometimes, he can become too creative, leading to unnecessary turnovers.

However, as you can see from his stats he didn’t commit an insane amount. Actually, Brunson didn’t commit many at all. However, it’s still a part of his game that needs to be tweaked.

Now, scouts believe much of his on-court success came from comfort which stems from experience. It’ll be interesting to see if his success carries over to the NBA right away. Which, based on stats and the eye test, Brunson can contribute to nearly every team once he steps in the league.

Scouts are also unsure of Brunson’s defensive play. They say that he must prove he has a willingness to play 100 percent on that end of the floor. Now that he’s entering a league with the greatest players in the world, it’s all or nothing for Brunson. Defense should be his main priority to prove doubters wrong.

When the draft is all said and done, Brunson will most likely be playing for a contender becasue of where he will fall. Although that won’t do him any good in terms of playing time it’ll help him bring his game to form.

Why he’s such a good fit with the Wolves is because he can come in and be a good role player. With Teague and Jones occupying the guard spot Brunson can be their relief man. Again, he’s and intelligent offensive player and a true winner. The more winning players the Wolves have in their locket room the better.

Taking Brunson at No. 20 may seem like a reach to some. However, if most of the players taken before the Wolves are ones they wanted, Brunson would be a good pick. His ability to run an offense, make good decisions and hit some shots off the bench makes him a safe pick.

Next: Solving the Timberwolves' depth issues

The Wolves struggle on defense as a whole, and especially on the perimeter. Brunson wouldn’t help there right away, but that certainly could change over time.