Tim Connelly had Minnesota Timberwolves draft wheeling and dealing

The Minnesota Timberwolves began rather slowly as the NBA Free Agency Market opened for business. Rather than commit limited dollars in the pursuit of signing big names, the team committed early on to signing help to address big needs.  But that was not the case for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first NBA Draft with President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly.

He loved to trade picks for other picks. Whether it was in round one or round two, Connelly loved to work the phones.

This was a draft that resembled weaving back and forth on an interstate during the evening commute. The team was involved in three picks in the draft, after entering the event with just four selections, none of which fell within the first 15 picks in the draft.

What picks did the Minnesota Timberwolves have in the 2022 NBA Draft?

The Timberwolves entered the draft scheduled to pick at:

1. Pick 19 Traded to Memphis Grizzlies for picks 22 and 26
2. Pick 22 (from Memphis) – Auburn C Walker Kessler
3. Pick 26 (Traded pick from Memphis) – Duke SF Wendell Moore Jr.
4. Pick 40 Traded to Charlotte Hornets for pick 45 and a future 2nd round pick
5. Pick 45 (pick from Charlotte) – F Josh Minott
6. Pick 48 – Traded to Indiana for future 2nd round pick
7. Pick 50 – Euroleague G Matteo Spagnolo

And so the Timberwolves were very deliberate about who they wanted to draft, and where, throughout the evening’s event.  Of the four selections made by the Timberwolves, the Timberwolves traded Walker Kessler as part of the team’s package for Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

The Timberwolves traded away a rookie from the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, and still emerged with three players.  While one will play in the Euroleague for the next year or two, the Timberwolves have signed both Wendell Moore Jr. and Josh Minott to contracts.

That’s either beginner’s luck, or the Timberwolves drafts just upgraded for the foreseeable future.