Minnesota Timberwolves 2019 NBA Draft Big Board

No. 10 – Grant Williams  | SF | Tennessee

Grade: 87 | Fit: B+

Age: 20.5 | Height: 6-foot-8 | Wingspan: 6-foot-10

Best strength: Screen and roll/pick and pop game

Biggest weakness:  Creating his own shot

Potential role: Do-it-all versatile defender and big 3/small 4 that can get to the rim.

Synopsis: Grant Williams has the potential to be the Draymond Green of this year’s draft. He is terrific in the screening game, both as a popper and a roller, and was the ultimate glue guy at Tennessee. He has a great frame at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds and rebounds well. He is an above-average on-ball defender and smaller guards have a tough time getting through his brick wall of a chest. He will be an excellent system defender at the next level, but in order to maximize his potential, he will have to improve his 3-point shot.

No. 9 – Keldon Johnson  | SG | Kentucky

Grade: 88 | Fit: A

Age: 19.6 | Height: 6-foot-6 | Wingspan: 6-foot-9

Best strength: Transition scoring

Biggest weakness:  Passing

Potential role: 3 and D SG off the bench that will give more offensive but less on defense compared to Josh Okogie.

Synposis: Johnson is the runner-up for the most slept-on prospect in this draft. He is a bully who wants to get in your face, call you lame, take your lunch money, and come back for more the next day on defense. He does the dirty work as a defender, taking charges, winning 50-50 balls, and making deflections that lead to steals. He is a delight to watch in transition and has long strides that let him get in the lane almost at will. A shooting guard rotation of him and Josh Okogie would light Target Center on fire next year.

No. 8 – Nickeil Alexander-Walker  | CG | Virginia Tech

Grade: 88 | Fit: A-

Age: 20.8 | Height: 6-foot-6 | Wingspan: 6-foot-9

Best strength: Playmaking

Biggest weakness:  PG/SG tweener

Potential role: Productive rotational guard that can make plays on offense and defend most PGs and SGs.

Synopsis: NAW is one of the best all-around prospects in this draft class. He does most things well, but nothing tremendously. As a result, he will be a very moldable player on both ends of the floor and could fit as a backup point guard or shooting guard depending on who else the Wolves would draft/sign/acquire via trade. He was at his best serving as a pick and roll ball handler at Virginia Tech and he could fit right in doing that with KAT next season.

No. 7 – Brandon Clarke  | PF | Gonzaga

Grade: 89 | Fit: A+

Age: 22.7 | Height: 6-foot-8 | Wingspan: 6-foot-8

Best strength: Three-level defense

Biggest weakness:  Shooting

Potential role: Starting PF next to KAT who can defend positions 1-5, block shots, and get to the rim well.

Synopsis: Despite being one of the oldest players in this class, Brandon Clarke can be an immediate starter who will make a team better on both ends. He is a jackknife on defense that can guard all five positions, block shots like there’s no tomorrow in the help, and excel as both an on and off-ball defender. He is not a great 3-point shooter, but given his unmatched work ethic, I would be shocked if he did not add it to his toolkit by age 25.

No. 6 – Coby White  | PG | North Carolina

Grade: 89 | Fit: A

Age: 19.3 | Height: 6-foot-5 | Wingspan: 6-foot-5

Best strength: Athleticism

Biggest weakness:  Shot selection

Potential role: Fringe starting PG who can push the pace in transition and stretch the floor with his ability to shoot and put the ball on the deck.

Synopsis: Coby White can flat-out fly. His speed and athletic ability allow him to be a dangerous weapon on the break, both as a scorer and a playmaker. White shot the 3 at a very respectable 35.3 percent rate, which opened the door for him to attack closeouts and get by defenders. When he got by defenders, he was excellent in using his step-back jumper to get further away from the defense and make open shots. Point guards that can create their own shot are a luxury in the NBA and White can step in and do that right away for the Wolves.