Minnesota Timberwolves 2019 NBA Draft Big Board
By Jack Borman
No. 5 – Sekou Doumbouya | PF | Limoges, France
Grade: 90 | Fit: B+
Age: 18.4 | Height: 6-foot-9 | Wingspan: 6-foot-11
Best strength: Frame/strength
Biggest weakness: Defensive IQ
Potential role: Rotational PF that can be a solid rebounder and post defender early on.
Synopsis: Doumbouya reminds me a lot of what Pascal Siakam looked like in 2017-18 for the Raptors: a big-bodied athlete who oozes with potential on both ends of the floor. Both were roughly 6-foot-9, 230 pounds at the combine and possessed similar skills during their respective combines. Sekou will be effective in transition and on the backboards in year one but will have to improve his defensive IQ as an off-ball defender if he wants to see significant minutes as a rookie. It is important to note that Doumbouya is the youngest player in the draft, which factors into his high potential and makes him a coveted prospect in my eyes.
No. 4 – Cam Reddish | SF | Duke
Grade: 92 | Fit: A
Age: 19.8 | Height: 6-foot-8 | Wingspan: 7-foot
Best strength: Shooting
Biggest weakness: Consistency
Potential role: Fringe starting SG/SF that could defend positions 1-4 and knock down 3’s left and right
Synopsis: Cam Reddish is exactly what you want in a modern NBA player. He has the size, wingspan, shooting stroke, potential defensive versatility, and athleticism that NBA GMs fall in love with. However, consistency was a big issue for Reddish in his lone season at Duke. I believe it had a lot to do with playing next to RJ Barrett, which could make Cam a steal, even if he goes in the latter half of the top 10. He shot 33.3 percent from downtown at Duke, but expect that number to rise near 40 percent in his rookie season, especially if he plays next to a point guard like Tyus Jones that can get him the ball in his spots.
No. 3 – De’Andre Hunter | SF | Virginia
Grade: 94 | Fit: A+
Age: 21.5 | Height: 6-foot-7 | Wingspan: 7-foot-2
Best strength: Five-position defender
Biggest weakness: Athleticism
Potential role: Starting SF/PF capable of defending all five positions, rebound on both ends and drain spot-up 3’s.
Synopsis: If you are looking for a safe 3 and D prospect with a high floor, smart basketball mind, championship pedigree, and the ability to defend all five positions, De’Andre Hunter is your man. He would fit perfectly next to KAT because Hunter could mask some of his deficiencies on defense while still being an effective offensive big that can stretch the floor. Hunter had an eFG of 57.9 percent, which is terrific for a 3 and D player who also plays in the mid-range a fair amount.
No. 2 – Jarrett Culver | SG | Texas Tech
Grade: 95 | Fit: B+
Age: 20.3 | Height: 6-foot-6 | Wingspan: 6-foot-9
Best strength: Playmaking
Biggest weakness: Shot selection
Potential role: Starting SG that can score in a variety of ways, make plays in the screen game, rebound on defense, and defend opposing guards.
Synopsis: Like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Culver is an excellent all-around player who was created problems for opposing teams at all three levels on both ends of the floor. Jarrett’s best skill right now is his ability to make plays off the dribble in the pick and roll, and on takes to the hoop. He has real potential to be an outstanding shot-creator for himself and others if his ball-handling improves as a rookie. He can guard positions 1-3 comfortably and was a solid off-ball defender as well in his sophomore season at Texas Tech, in which he led the Red Raiders to the National Championship game here in Minneapolis.
No. 1 – Darius Garland | PG | Vanderbilt
Grade: 96 | Fit: A+
Age: 19.4 | Height: 6-foot-2 | Wingspan: 6-foot-5
Best strength: Shot-making
Biggest weakness: Size
Potential role: Starting PG that can push the pace and fill it up from 3, the mid-range, and on the drive, as well as make high-level reads and passes from anywhere on the court.
Synopsis: The number one player on the Big Board is Darius Garland. At just 6-foot-2, he is a point guard that knows how to get buckets. He is very twitchy off the bounce, which allows him to get past bigger defenders and finish with creativity at the rim. He has a great left hand which makes him even tougher to defend on the perimeter and in the lane. But Darius’ best skill is undoubtedly his shooting. He can fill it up coming off screens and when he creates his own shot, which is why the Vanderbilt product would thrive in a system the featured two ball handlers.
If the Wolves end up trading with New Orleans for the fourth pick and select Garland there, he will put on a show at Target Center next season. With Minnesota also rumored to be in play for restricted free agent point guard D’Angelo Russell, every Wolves fan’s’ best-case scenario should be a backcourt of Garland and Russell.
Next. Timberwolves Free Agents: Who’s restricted and who isn’t. dark
No matter who Gersson Rosas and the Minnesota front office select on Thursday night, be confident knowing that they have put in the work and thought through just about every transactional scenario and fit for all of these players.
If you have any questions about players and trades, or any feedback, you can reach Jack on Twitter @jrborman13.