Why Bleacher Report’s ranking of Timberwolves’ top prospects is flawed

Earlier this week, Bleacher Report released their ranking of the top three future prospects from each NBA team. Minnesota Timberwolves fans are well aware of the talent their team possesses, but BR’s picks may not have been exactly what was expected.

BR’s list defined a “future prospect” as a player that is 23 years old or younger, has spent three years or less in the NBA, and is on a standard, guaranteed contract for the upcoming season. With that in mind, here’s how they ranked the Timberwolves’ top prospects:

1. Anthony Edwards
2. Jaden McDaniels 
3. Wendell Moore Jr. 

While this list doesn’t seem too off-base in terms of gauging talent, it fails in its understanding of what a true prospect for this Minnesota team is. For starters, Anthony Edwards is a full-blown star at this point. He may have just turned 21 years old, but he’s among the most likely young players set to break out into All-Star or even All-NBA form next season. Including him among “future prospects” just feels wrong.

The same is true to a lesser extent for Jaden McDaniels. While he’s not expected to become one of the faces of the league like Edwards is, McDaniels will be entering his third season in the league as well, and we’re already well aware of what he can do at the pro level. He’s set to be one of the best defenders on this roster, and likely a top five scoring option as well. Some of the newer Timberwolves would feel like a better fit for this list.

Which Timberwolves Are A Better Fit For This List?

So if we take out McDaniels and Edwards, who should be in the new list of top three unproven prospects? BR listed Wendell Moore Jr., which is a solid pick. His versatility and physical frame give him high upside as a wing creator. The fact that he climbed so high up the draft board after his junior season in college is a great sign for his development.

Another of the 2022 Timberwolves draftees, Josh Minott, isn’t a bad pick either. After his campaign in Summer League, Wolves fans are rightfully excited for what he can become. He threw down a few eyebrow-raising dunks and showed his potential as a defensive-minded wing.

But perhaps the best pick for this list would be Jaylen Nowell. While he’s already spent three years in the NBA, he’s never had a season where he logged as many minutes as Jaden McDaniels or Anthony Edwards. He feels much more like a “prospect” than either of his budding star teammates. After shooting the lights out at 39% from three this year, there’s speculation he could end up as the Timberwolves’ sixth man this coming year.

But no matter how you want to define a prospect, there’s no denying the talent in Minnesota. There’s more than enough reason to be excited about the Timberwolves’ young guns.