Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 draft prospects to upgrade perimeter defense

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Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers grabs a loose ball against Kira Lewis Jr. #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Kira Lewis Jr.

Kira Lewis is one of, if not the, fastest guards in this draft. This speed helps on offense, especially transition, but is also incredibly valuable on the defensive end. Despite lacking great size or strength, Lewis is still a great point of attack defender even though his ability to switch is limited.

However, just because Lewis isn’t the most versatile defender doesn’t mean that he still can’t agitate opponents. Pairing him alongside any of the current guards on the Timberwolves roster right now would immediately improve their backcourt defense. His footspeed and quick hands make up for any deficiencies that result from his slender frame.

In the below clip, Lewis shows his quick hands and ability to read the play. Lewis starts by defending the ball-handler who is looking for the dribble handoff with his teammate. Lewis knows this, so instead of just sitting on his man, Lewis goes to dislodge the handoff. Lewis uses his quick hands to time the steal attempt ideally before using his speed to run in transition.

Lewis’s speed is also valuable as an off-ball defender. Even though he fights through screens well, Lewis’s lack of size results in him frequently getting bumped off his path. When this happens, Lewis often recovers quickly because of his quickness, as we can see below.

Lewis’s man initially creates a decent amount of space as he rotates to the top of the arc. Underestimating Lewis’s recovery speed, the ball-handler throws a lazy pass that Lewis rapidly jumps.

A common theme with Lewis’s steals is his inclination to turn it into a quick score in transition. If the Timberwolves draft Kira Lewis, they will be adding elite speed, quickness, and competitiveness to their backcourt.