Minnesota Timberwolves draft: Round 2 diamonds in the rough

50th overall pick

With the 50th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft and the last pick for the loaded Minnesota Timberwolves draft look no further than the 6-foot-8  215-pound sophomore forward out of Colorado, Jabari Walker. This defensive stud also led his team with 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Walker is an off-ball player who loves to catch and shoot with a healthy 35 percent three-point shot.

His offensive game has not reached its peak just yet, but his shot form is there and he projects to be a great pick & pop player in the league. Walker is the prototypical “3 and D” guy who is great at shooting off the pass and can lockdown anyone coming his way.

Jabari Walker has a very impressive 7-foot-0 wingspan, giving him the ability to close out on shooters almost perfectly. He does not get startled by opposing players and forces them to make mistakes with his long arms and ability to not fall for pump fakes.

Timberwolves defensive upgrade

He can guard most players starting at the perimeter arc all the way to the rim with his defensive versatility and mix of strength, lateral quickness, and size. His close-out defense is what trainers strive to teach any professional player and should translate effortlessly to the next level.

His ceiling reminds me of a taller Thabo Sefolosha with a better ability to rebound. He may not be at that level yet defensively but he has the frame and discipline to get there with the potential to be a significantly better rebounder as well. If he can become a serviceable NBA catch-and-shoot player he will make a lot of teams happy with his play.