Minnesota Timberwolves: The Bad of the NBA Draft Lottery
2010
Pre-Lottery Position: No. 2
Actual Draft Position: No. 4
Draft Pick: Wesley Johnson
The 2000s were not kind to the Timberwolves, to put it lightly.
In 2010 the Wolves were coming off a draft disaster that we’ll get too later. They needed some stability after finishing the season 15-67, the second-worst record in the NBA.
The lottery pushed the Wolves down to the fourth pick, where they had several options to choose from. Unfortunately for Wolves fans, they went with Wesley Johnson, the almost-23-year-old all-around wing from Syracuse.
At the time it seemed like a perfect fit for a sputtering franchise. Johnson was supposed to be a safe, well-rounded pick who could help improve the team immediately.
He struggled in his rookie season averaging nine points, three rebounds, and 1.9 assists while starting 63 games, good enough to make the All-Rookie Second Team.
That was the highlight for Johnson in Minnesota. His second season was a disaster and the Wolves quickly shipped him to Phoenix. Johnson never improved his shot-making ability and has a career shooting percentage of 40.4 percent.
Johnson last played for the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards in the 2018-19 season but is currently out of the league.
2011
Pre-Lottery Position: No. 1
Actual Draft Position: No. 2
Draft Pick: Derrick Williams
The year after the Wes Johnson gaffe, the Wolves were right back in the NBA’s cellar with a 17-65 record and the best odds at snagging the top pick. Once again, the lottery gods smote Timberwolves fans. The Cleveland Cavaliers usurped the Wolves and grabbed the No. 1 pick, causing Minnesota to fall to No. 2.
Luckily for the Wolves, 2011 was touted as a two-man draft class. Kyrie Irving was the consensus number one, but Arizona forward Derrick Williams was a near-lock to become an NBA superstar.
Williams was meant to be an athletic wing who could score around the rim, shoot the three surprisingly well, and was wrapped in a power forward’s body. A supposed Swiss Army knife, he was touted to be able to come in and become a star right away.
Unfortunately, Williams’ talent never translated to the NBA. He was the ultimate tweener, not quick enough to play small forward, but not big and strong enough to match up with other power forwards.
Like Wes Johnson the year before, Williams made the 2011-12 All-Rookie Second Team.
His career just never really took off. Williams was traded to the Sacramento Kings just 11 games into his third season and bounced around the league until his last stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18, in which he played just two games.
Williams was supposed to be a franchise savior for the Wolves team that desperately needed a superstar player, but ended up being one of the most disappointing draft picks in Wolves history. Recently, he spoke publicly about his frustrating tenure in Minnesota — comments that Wolves fans probably wouldn’t disagree with.