The Minnesota Timberwolves have the most draft capital of any NBA team, and finding a way to spend that capital wisely is going to be important for Minnesota this offseason.
The Timberwolves own a lottery pick — one that is currently projected to be in the top-6 overall selections. Minnesota also owns Brooklyn’s first-round selection, which sits at 16th overall, should the season remained shortened. The Wolves also own an early second-round pick, which is projected at 33rd overall right now.
Last year, the Timberwolves selected Texas Tech wing Jarrett Culver with the sixth overall selection after trading up from the 11th pick (and giving up Dario Saric). Minnesota also selected Washington wing Jaylen Nowell with the 43rd overall selection.
Having three top-35 picks can be really useful, should your team have a general manager capable of consistently hitting on talent with picks. There’s also the latter (I’m looking at you, Hornets, Wizards, and Cavaliers), where no matter how valuable or early the pick, they will almost always make a mistake.
If the Timberwolves intend on re-signing Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez, they will have to rely on their draft picks becoming contributors early on — with limited cap space to sign veterans later on.
The second round of the NBA draft is never going to have superstars hidden within it, but if Minnesota can hit on obtaining a role player with the 33rd overall pick, it will tremendously help them make a run come playoff time.
Just this past year, Terence Davis, an undrafted wing from Ole Miss, is having a high-level contributor role on a good Toronto Raptors team. Eric Paschall was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the middle of the second round and has already proven to be a value to the team. Other examples (just in 2019 include Cody Martin (Hornets), Bruno Fernando (Hawks), Daniel Gafford (Bulls), and Carsen Edwards (Celtics).
Here are three players that the Timberwolves could draft in the early second round.