Minnesota Timberwolves: What you need to know about the NBA Draft Combine

What Minnesota Timberwolves fans need to know about the 2020 NBA Draft Combine.

With the Minnesota Timberwolves holding the No. 1, No. 17, and No. 33 selections in the 2020 NBA Draft, it’s time to get up to speed on all things NBA Draft Combine.

As with everything else in the era of COVID-19, the combine will take on a unique form. Instead of a multi-day event in Chicago, it will be an event that is a combination of individual team markets and virtual sessions.

Minnesota Timberwolves: NBA Draft Combine Format

In past years, this event was televised from a gym in Chicago, chock-full of analysis from ESPN college analysts such as Jay Williams and Jay Bilas and thoughts on international players from Fran Fraschilla.

This year, the event will be spread out over the course of several weeks.

League and team interviews will be conducted through Oct. 16, all through videoconference. On the heels of that, players will also participate in on-court drills that apparently could extend into mid-November.

Each player will make a “Pro Day” video “at the NBA team facility nearest to a player’s home or interim residence”, along with medical testing and exams from NBA-affiliated doctors in that market. Those videos will be completed over the course of the month of October.

From the above-linked release from the NBA:

"As part of the event’s innovative format, the NBA will incorporate HomeCourt, a mobile basketball training application that uses advanced machine learning and computer vision, to provide analytics and record the shooting evaluation portion of NBA Combine 2020 and for players to create a unique “Pro Day” video.  The video, used to showcase a player’s skills, may feature only the individual player (and either a coach or trainer) and can be up to 45 minutes long.  HomeCourt is developed by NEX Team, Inc., an NBA strategic partner."

The league is also utilizing an online tool that archives all scouting information gathered, and teams and scouts will be able to compare players not only to each other but also to past Combine participants.

Minnesota Timberwolves: NBA Draft Combine Participants

The NBA Draft Combine participant list typically ends up a bit light on big names towards the top of the draft; there simply isn’t much upside for some of the best prospects to participate.

If the top tier of players opted out of this year’s combine it would not have been a huge surprise, given the current climate and the odd structure and format of the 2020 edition.

But that’s only partially the case. While the likes of Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and Obi Toppin are not going to participate, possible No. 1 pick LaMelo Ball will. It’s a mild surprise, given what some of his perceived shortcomings are — namely, his jump shot.

Of course, teams will be happy to see Ball taking part, as it suggests a certain level of competitiveness and confidence in his skill-set.

Other players participating who are frequently mocked as top-10 picks include Deni Avdija, Tyrese Halliburton, Killian Hayes, and Isaac Okoro. Minnesota natives Tre Jones, Daniel Oturu, and Tyrell Terry are all on the list as well, and all three of those players have already interviewed with the Timberwolves, per multiple reports.

We’ll keep an eye on any Wolves-related reports as the combine takes place over the next several weeks, including which players they interview and any news about combine performances that might come out.