Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Profile: Aaron Nesmith

Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Profile: Aaron Nesmith

Draft Projection

Overall, Aaron Nesmith has the potential to be the perfect 3-and-D player for the Timberwolves’ system. His physical profile is nearly identical to former Timberwolf Robert Covington, though he will need to add some strength in order to match Covington’s physical prowess.

Nesmith will likely never be the Defensive Player of the Year candidate that Covington is, but he has the potential to become an above-average defender if he is willing to buy-in on that side of the ball.

Offensively, Nesmith would be a near-perfect fit in Minnesota. Nesmith is capable of catching fire without ever taking a dribble. This is the type of player that fits perfectly between Russell and Towns since those two will have extremely high usage rates next season. Nesmith would carry a lower usage rate but knock down open jumpers with relative ease, providing key scoring punch on the wing.

Don’t be surprised if Minnesota drafts Aaron Nesmith with either of their first-round picks in order to surround their core with a superb off-ball scorer.

Nesmith being picked in the top six or seven (remember, the Wolves can’t fall below pick No. 7 with their lottery pick) would be a surprise. But he could be a trade-back target for Minnesota if they’re able to pick up an asset and move from the top six or seven into the No. 9 to 13 range.

Or, Nesmith might fall to the Wolves at  No. 15 or 16, although that seems less likely.

Either way, Nesmith would be a worthy target as someone with a solid floor as a knockdown shooter and role player and a ceiling of a starting-caliber player who figures out how to be a positive contributor on the defensive side of the ball.