Minnesota Timberwolves Player Review: Keita Bates-Diop

Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2018 second-round pick Keita Bates-Diop didn’t play much early in his rookie season but ultimately showed significant promise.

Prior to Tom Thibodeau’s firing in early January, Minnesota Timberwolves‘ rookie and second-round pick Keita Bates-Diop only appeared in two games, and both were losses of more than 30 points.

Bates-Diop appeared in a handful of mostly lopsided affairs over the first few weeks under interim head coach Ryan Saunders. By the first week of March, however, he was in the rotation on a permanent basis, largely due to injuries to his teammates but also due to impressive play in short stints.

Bates-Diop was an intriguing pro prospect coming out of Ohio State due to his length and versatility, as well as his feel for the game and relatively efficient offense.

As it turns out, some of the concerns surrounding Bates-Diop came to fruition as well: he isn’t overly athletic and is not a great shooter. But that said, KBD was solid as a team defender and as a weapon in the open floor.

Perhaps most exciting was the potential that Bates-Diop showed as a cutter. In seemingly every game after Bates-Diop joined the regular rotation, he was able to score on a sudden cut to the basket. And, more often than not, he made an impact in the open floor, too.

While Bates-Diop’s numbers (5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, 42.3 percent shooting from the field) don’t jump out, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t solidly productive when on the floor.

Long-term, Bates-Diop profiles as a solid bench wing player who can play either the 3 or the 4 depending on matchups. If he can improve his long-range shooting stroke (he shot 25 percent on 52 attempts as a rookie) and becomes a bit more aggressive on offense, he could turn into a starter at some point.

While fellow rookie and 20-year-old Josh Okogie was a bundle of raw talent and extreme hustle, the 23-year-old Bates-Diop was a calmer, more steady and even presence. The highs weren’t as high, but outside of a couple tough shooting nights, there weren’t too many lows for Bates-Diop, either.

Assuming that Robert Covington and returns healthy and Andrew Wiggins and Okogie are both still in the fold, Bates-Diop would figure to be the fourth wing off the bench. He also could be the primary backup small-ball power forward if both Anthony Tolliver and Taj Gibson are allowed to walk in free agency.

If nothing else, it’s appearing clear that the Wolves landed a steal with the No. 48 pick in last June’s draft. The only thing that’s left to find out is just how big of a heist they may have pulled off.