Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 things we’ve learned so far in Las Vegas

The Timberwolves made the right decisions on draft night

Following the NBA Draft on June 28, the general consensus among Timberwolves fans and the folks who grade these things was that Minnesota had done a solid job with the selections, at No. 20 and No. 48.

While there was plenty of chatter about the possibility of trading back from No. 20 or trading up from No. 48 to try and get back into the first round, the Wolves stood pat and still walked away with two of the more intriguing prospects in the draft when it comes to length and versatility.

Josh Okogie’s defensive prowess and awareness was on full display on Friday against Denver. The 20th-overall pick tallied seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals in what was otherwise a poor shooting performance.

Also, these things happened…

The next time out, on Sunday afternoon, Okogie turned in another solid all-around performance, including a pair of steals and a block.

On Monday against Brooklyn, it was another tough shooting performance, as Okogie made only 4 of his 13 field goal attempts on the night, bringing his three-game total to just 11-of-38 (29 percent), and 3-of-15 (20 percent) from beyond the arc.

Keita Bates-Diop, the Wolves’ second-round pick, isn’t shooting the ball all that much better overall, clocking in at 14-for-37 (38 percent), but had a monster game in the win over Toronto, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while showcasing the positional versatility that the Wolves are counting on heading into next season.

If nothing else, there appears to be significant defensive value — and offensive potential — when it comes to the rookies on the Wolves roster.