As we approach the NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves front office might be taking a look at a 6-foot-5 guard from Kentucky with plenty of shooting potential.
Kentucky guard Tyler Herro is an interesting prospect for the Minnesota Timberwolves to consider in the upcoming draft.
Herro will almost certainly still be on the board when the Wolves pick at No. 11 and would quite likely be a surprise pick to everyone that early in the draft, but he may also be exactly what the Wolves need.
Before I start, I should probably note that I’m a big fan of the Timberwolves trading this pick one way or another. I’ve already discussed how the Wolves don’t need another mid-first round pick, but could make better use of the roster spot with an earlier lottery pick or a solid veteran.
If there is an opportunity for the Wolves to move further back in the first round and to bolster the roster with a proven role player, I would definitely expect the Wolves to take it, and depending how far back in the round that pick was then Herro may still be an option.
Herro is a one-and-done college player, starting all 37 games for Kentucky and earning a spot on the All-SEC Second Team. In 32.6 minutes per appearance, Herro averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steal while shooting 46 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Herro’s shooting potential is exactly why the Wolves may be interested in his services come the draft. Thankfully for us, they were there for Herro’s combine interview which you can check out below.
While we’re on the combine, it’s worth noting that some have been critical of Herro’s performance and have theorized that his draft stock may have fallen as a result.
With a lot of players now hitting free agency this summer, the Timberwolves will certainly be looking to fill their bench with capable players. Nabbing a shooter with a lot of potential on a rookie contract would knock a serious need off the board as well as not blow the team’s budget out of the water.
If his 35.5 3-point percentage could carry into the NBA, he’d rank above the likes of Wiggins and Teague this season. Of course, some players have major shooting dips from college to the big show. The Timberwolves would need to make his transition to the NBA a priority to ensure his shooting numbers stay intact.
Herro’s 93.5 percent mark from the free throw line is a great indicator of his shooting potential. It’s a free throw percentage that is better than what Stephen Curry managed in any of his three college seasons, and Curry has become one of the better free throw shooters in the league, not to mention one of the best all-around shooters of all-time.
Granted, Curry managed better 3-point percentages throughout college, and while nobody is expecting Herro to become the next Curry, the Timberwolves would love a capable shooter on the second unit.
If Herro continues working on his shooting and the Timberwolves can aid in his development, he could become a solid bench shooter that adds much needed depth to the Timberwolves’ roster. If he fails to live up to his potential, then his productivity in the league will likely see him make sparse appearances.
The ability for this pick to go either way may be too much for the Wolves to consider using their 11th-overall selection on, but should they find a way to move down the order a bit, Herro is certainly worth a look.