How much better will the Minnesota Timberwolves be this year?

The Timberwolves drafted Duke guard Wendell Moore Jr. with the 26th overall pick in hopes that he would grow into a reliable rotational player. Moore was a versatile guard at Duke who brought the ball up and was their primary playmaker.

When it came down to the NBA Summer League, Moore showed growing pains in adapting to running the offense. However, if he can develop as a playmaker, the rookie could earn valuable playing time.

The defensive side of the ball was the Timberwolves’ primary area of concern last season. Minnesota was outrebounded and gave up multiple double-digit leads to the Memphis Grizzlies in last year’s playoffs.

The Wolves struck gold in the draft with the 45th pick, selecting the six-foot-eight forward out of Memphis, Josh Minott. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 14.6 minutes while shooting 52.2% from the field in college.

However, Minott dominated the competition at the NBA Summer League, showing flashes of his versatility in scoring the ball and protecting the rim. In addition, he brought intensity and gritty defense to the Timberwolves. There is much room for improvement offensively, but this kid is definitely worth the risk.