Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Draft Profile: Josh Green

The Minnesota Timberwolves need two-way wings and forwards, and with their second pick in the first round, they should have plenty of options.

Josh Green is a first-round player that can have an immediate impact on any team that chooses to select him. He is a defense-first wing that can occasionally hit the three-point shot and exceed in transition.

Green came into 2019 as an ESPN Top-ten recruit. After signing with Arizona along with Nico Mannion, he solidified his first-round stock this past year. Green is a top-five defender in this draft class. Simply because of his defense from the wing spot, he becomes a can’t-miss player.

Green is not the type of player that is going to “wow” you with his offensive isolation game — it is fairly limited. He needs to work on making his shot consistent and improve his finishing at the rim. Green is likely a 3-and-D slasher at the next level simply due to not having a great handle nor a lot of passing/vision — although he is a good decision-maker with the ball in his hands and is absolutely willing to make the extra pass.

Josh Green’s main calling card is his on-ball defense. He is excellent in iso-situations and can defend almost anyone from one to three. Green is athletic enough to hang with point guards but also has a solid enough frame to go against most smaller fours.

If Green can improve upon his defensive playmaking (generating steals, blocks, and turnovers) he could end up being a very high-quality role player at the NBA level.

Fit with the Timberwolves

The Timberwolves need two-way wings to go along with D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Josh Green could very well fit that mold. As an athletic defense-first shooting guard/small forward, he could be a player that provides spacing and driving ability offensively. Though his skill set is somewhat rigid on that end of the floor, he brings enough to have a role at the next level.

Next to Russell, Green would be an excellent fit defensively. He can take on the tougher backcourt assignment while Russell continues to focus on scoring/facilitation. This helps unlock Russell even more as a perimeter threat offensively. Green also provides some pick-and-roll ability as a handler, but less-so as a roll-man. His inability to finish at the rim is the major weakness in his game that he has to work on.

All in all, Josh Green is a versatile wing player that could provide some valuable skills for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is expected to be picked somewhere between the late lottery to late first round — and the Wolves currently hold the 16th overall selection. Should they select a wing player there, it very well could be Green.