Point Guard
Do the Minnesota Timberwolves need another backcourt player? Probably not, as need is a very strong word. Still, Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard is not just your run-of-the-mill point guard. In fact, he could be a solid piece for the Timberwolves’ rotation. He is a solid NBA-ready player, emerging as a true senior with four seasons of highly competitive basketball behind him.
The Timberwolves have the necessary offense to win games. PG Andrew Nembhard brings the field general required to make it all hum. That translates into the Timberwolves getting optimal performance out of their weapons, and the Timberwolves are loaded with weapons.
He is the best passer in this draft class, which is not something to take lightly. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 195-pounds, he has intriguing size for a point guard. His scoring is a bit underwhelming, as the key to being a solid NBA point guard is being a threat to score, drawing bodies, and dishing it to the open shooter.
That is not to say that Nembhard is a liability. He can shoot, hitting over 50 percent from two-point range and 38.3 percent from three-point range. He was even hitting nearly 90 percent on his free throws.
He has been a solid defensive player who has been coached to set up the plays and distribute the ball to the hot hand. If drafted, the Timberwolves will love what he does on the defensive half of the court and will love his ability to create shots for his teammates. But the coaching staff will need to show some patience with him in the offense. He has the tools, but he has neglected to improve those parts of his game.