Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 goals for the offseason
By Nick Crain
2. Draft someone who can contribute immediately
In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves will have the number 11 overall pick. They will look to draft a player who can be a key player immediately, if not an instant starter.
While this draft class is full of uncertainty, there should be plenty of options left at that spot in the draft to make that happen.
Unfortunately, Minnesota doesn’t have their own second-round pick in 2019. That pick was ironically enough traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the draft night trade for Tyus Jones. However, they do have the Miami Heat’s second-round pick, which will be slotted as the 43rd overall selection.
Although more difficult to do in the second round, the Timberwolves will try to find a solid player that deep in the draft. Minnesota should look to take a risk on a boom or bust player. There are second-round picks every year who end up being much better players than their draft position.
The Minnesota Timberwolves overall have done a good job of drafting players that can make an immediate impact. Rather than drafting raw players who are developmental projects, the majority of their picks end up being players who contribute as rookies.
Over the past few years, the Timberwolves have drafted quality players like Zach LaVine, Karl Anthony-Towns, Kris Dunn, Josh Okogie, and Keita Bates Diop.
If Minnesota can come out of the 2019 drafts with two players who can fill a role and get quality minutes next season, it will be one step in the right direction. A solid draft should be on the top of their offseason priority list.