What if . . .? Timberwolves Connelly saved the best from Class of 2022?

Moore wing of the future

Wendell Moore Jr. was selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft with the 26th overall pick.  He promised plenty of potential, a wing who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs a healthy 213-pounds. He even boasts a wingspan that exceeds seven feet. A three-year player from Duke University, Moore offers the versatility that the Minnesota Timberwolves were seeking with a rapidly changing roster (in part due to the Rudy Gobert trade).

Moore is ideally suited as a small forward or shooting guard role, but he did get some action running the floor as a point guard as well, and it could very likely be that range of offensive output either on-ball or off-ball that could make him a valuable asset for the Timberwolves roster.  His ability to slide in as the primary ball handler was not considered initially, but in light of the roster moves this off-season, that may be a very important attribute.

What was considered is how effective Wendell Moore Jr. performs on both ends of the NBA basketball court. And that was on full display throughout his Summer League play. His versatility was on full display, as he averaged 12.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.4 SPG.  His perimeter shot was a bit underwhelming, coming in at 25.0 percent, but he shot 94.1 percent from the foul line.

Moore could have been an option as part of the trade package. I believe that his versatility, coupled with the uncertainty about how the final roster would look, placed Moore into the do not trade pile pretty quickly.

Moore will need to continue to develop more consistent shooting before he will see measurable minutes in the Timberwolves rotation. But he has enough skill in so many needed roles that the Timberwolves needed to keep him on hand to serve as the mortar in case any cracks appeared this season.