Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

Minnesota Timberwolves draft picks of the last 10 years: Where are they now?

By Ben Beecken

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 21: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 21: Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 9
Next
Minnesota Timberwolves, Wes Johnson
SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 2: Wesley Johnson #4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2010 Draft

The Wolves came into the 2010 draft with what can only be described as a glut of first-round draft picks.

Minnesota had No. 4, No. 16, No. 23, and two second-rounders. The No. 4 pick was reportedly on the block, as the Wolves wanted to move into the top three for a shot at Evan Turner or Derrick Favors following Washington’s expected selection of John Wall at No. 1.

But the Wolves couldn’t make the move, wisely holding on to Kevin Love in all trade discussions. At No. 4, they were faced with a choice between Syracuse forward Wes Johnson and Kentucky big man DeMarcus Cousins. Johnson was considered the safe, NBA-ready pick, while Cousins was the volatile, high-ceiling option.

The Wolves, with Love already on the team and Nikola Pekovic expected to join the team from overseas, opted to go with the wing player in Johnson. Unfortunately, Wes was not exactly “NBA-ready”, despite his advanced age of 23 after playing five years in college.

Johnson did shoot 35.6 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie but only 39.7 percent from the field overall and a disappointing 69.6 percent from the free throw line en route to nine points and three rebounds per game.

There was hope for progress in Year Two, but Johnson regressed, shooting only 31.4 percent on 3-point attempts and averaging only six points and 2.7 rebounds per game over 64 starts.

The following offseason, the Wolves had to attach a first-round pick and two second-rounders to ship Johnson out and create cap space, receiving three second-rounders in return. This particular trade was one of the low points of the Kahn era, which is certainly saying a lot.

Later in the first round of the 2010 draft, the Wolves shipped the No. 16 pick (Luke Babbitt) to Portland for oft-injured but tantalizing 3-and-D option Martell Webster. Webster proceeded to have an up-and-down two seasons in Minnesota, again playing well when healthy but struggling with back injuries throughout his stint.

The Wolves took Trevor Booker at No. 23 but traded that pick, along with a second-rounder, to Washington in a deal that brought back Nemanja Bjelica and Lazar Hayward.

The Webster trade was more or less a wash, and the swap with Washington was ultimately a narrow loss. Booker ended up being the best player of the quartet involved in the trade as a solid bench piece who continues to see success in the NBA, while Bjelica has had a solid NBA career and Hayward bounced around for a few years before washing out.

Given that the Wolves entered the draft with five picks and ended up with Johnson, Webster, Bjelica, and Hayward…it’s safe to say that 2010 was yet another draft disappointment.