Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 players for Wolves to consider drafting at No. 11
By Ben Beecken
Brandon Clarke, F, Gonzaga
We’ve already arrived at arguably the most polarizing prospect that should be taken in the range of picks surrounding No. 11.
Clarke was a huge part of Gonzaga’s attack this year, as the 6-foot-8 big man shot 68.7 percent from the field and blocked 3.2 shots per game.
The pros for Clarke are clear: he’s ultra-athletic, can score in the paint, has incredible instincts, and carries impressive defensive metrics. Clarke’s statistical and athletic profiles are elite, and there have been precious few NBA prospects with that level of collegiate success in the paint and on defense that have ultimately failed.
The cons? Clarke is already about to turn 23 years old, doesn’t have a reliable jump shot, is undersized, and only spent one year at a major, successful program. It’s also important to point out that even given Clarke’s strong profile by many draft models, his wingspan is small in comparison to his frame, and there isn’t much precedent for college big men with modest wingspans to be successful at the NBA level.
The most attractive thing about Clarke joining the Wolves that he can link up with Karl-Anthony Towns on both ends of the floor, namely in switching on defense and providing shot blocking expertise. On offense, Clarke’s athleticism and feel should go along way in coach Ryan Saunders’ scheme.
He’s also a fantastic rebounder, which is one of the streakier areas of incumbent power forward Dario Saric‘s game. With Taj Gibson hitting unrestricted free agency, the Wolves are absolutely looking to re-stock at the 4,
Clarke could potentially be picked in front of of Minnesota, but it sure seems like he should be available at No. 11. Also, keep an eye on Clarke as a potential trade-back option, depending on how things are shaking out.