If you have not been paying attention to the Minnesota Timberwolves outlook for the 2023 NBA Draft, you may be missing out on some intriguing developments. For starters, the Timberwolves absolutely do have a draft pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as they hold a second-round draft pick. But the question is, will the Timberwolves look to acquire additional picks in the 2023 NBA Draft?
If that is the plan, then it would certainly explain the interest of the Minnesota Timberwolves to interview Arkansas point forward Anthony Black:
Arkansas guard Anthony Black said he's either interviewed today or will interview today with the Bulls, Timberwolves, Raptors and Jazz. On Thursday he has the Rockets, Spurs, Hornets and Blazers. On Friday, he has the Nuggets, Pacers, Pelicans, Thunder and Wizards.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 17, 2023
Black is a 6-foot-7 point forward who possesses freakish ball-handling skills. He is slated to be a point guard, but his height and the frame to add additional muscle mass easily create a versatile rookie who can conceivably slot in at any position on the basketball court. And it’s that versatility that currently projects his name to be called out among the first 15 players in this year’s draft.
Anthony Black competed for the Arkansas Razorbacks for one season, averaging:
34.9 minutes | 12.8 points | 5.1 rebounds | 3.9 assists | 2.1 steals | 0.6 blocks per game
While he is highly regarded, much of his value is the unique potential to add a positionless rookie to an NBA roster, and that makes him highly coveted. Many Mock 2023 NBA Drafts project Anthony Black coming off the draft board no later than the 10th overall pick.
NBA Rumors: Can Timberwolves get a Top 10 pick?
Realistically speaking, the Minnesota Timberwolves may merely have an interest in Black to gauge how effective he may be on a rival team. Or is there something more at play with this interest? Are NBA rumors about the Timberwolves considering trading a key contributor true? The Timberwolves have some options on their roster but are restricted in trading some players for now.
Who holds a Top-10 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft?
- San Antonio Spurs
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Houston Rockets
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic
- Indiana Pacers
- Washington Wizards
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
Do any of these teams have an interest in a player on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster? You can ping both the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks as potential trade partners, as both teams are under pressure to improve their rosters dramatically and quickly.
Do the Minnesota Timberwolves have a valid interest in Anthony Black? I don’t know if Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has any interest in throwing curveballs in the days leading up to the draft. We have already cited a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers that would yield a solid return, including the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. This latest development would suggest that trading with the Trail Blazers is on the table.
This is a very intriguing development. Stay tuned . . .