The Minnesota Timberwolves joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1989, and they have made the playoffs just 11 times in their first 34 seasons. Their struggles are in part because of the team’s poor track record in the draft. Minnesota has certainly hit some home runs, but there have been more than a few busts too.
They have made the playoffs back-to-back years behind Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota has had the number one pick in the draft just twice, and they hit both times. There are rumors the team will trade Towns this summer, but Minnesota should not give up a star to get draft capital.
The Timberwolves had multiple options for each member of their draft bust starting five. There were no easy choices, which is not good when talking about just 34 years of history.
Minnesota Timberwolves all-time draft bust starting 5
PG: Jonny Flynn
The Timberwolves missed on two point guards selected in the top six over the last 15 years. Most fans would point to Kris Dunn here after the fifth overall pick in 2016 struggled in his lone season in Minnesota before being traded to Chicago in the Jimmy Butler deal. Dunn had three productive yet injury-riddled seasons with the Bulls before fading out of the league.
Flynn was the sixth pick in 2009. The Timberwolves had back-to-back picks and went with Ricky Rubio fifth overall. Minnesota won a franchise-low 15 games, but Flynn averaged 13.5 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.0 steal per game as a rookie in what turned out to be the best season of his career. He played just three years in the NBA and was out of the league before his 24th birthday.
To make matters worse, the Timberwolves selected two point guards at five and six, but none of them were Stephen Curry, who went seventh to Golden State. Rubio is still playing, but he never became a superstar as Curry will go down as one of the best to ever do it. DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, and Jeff Teague were all still on the board when Minnesota selected in 2009.
The Minnesota Timberwolves had two massive misses at point guard, but the strikeouts keep coming.
SG: Jarrett Culver
The Timberwolves did not technically make this selection. They moved up to sixth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft to take Culver, and it cost them Dario Saric and the 11th overall pick. Minnesota wanted a 6’6 wing with star potential, but the pick quickly turned into a bust.
Culver played 23.9 minutes per game as a rookie and that remains his career-high. The 24-year-old still has time to improve, but he played just ten games last season before being waived by the Hawks. Minnesota traded him with Juan Hernangomez for Patrick Beverley, which was a massive win. Still, Culver was a massive bust.
The 2019 NBA Draft class was not strong, but Tyler Herro, Cam Johnson, Jordan Poole, Grant Williams, Keldon Johnson, Kevin Porter Jr., and Nic Claxton were all still on the board when Minnesota picked. All six of those players would help the current Timberwolves, and there are multiple wings among that group. Minnesota just picked the wrong prospect, and they are still playing for that mistake.
The Timberwolves had no shortage of options at this position, including Josh Okogie, Corey Brewer, Rashad McCants, and Ndubi Ebi, but Jarrett Culver took the spot because he was the sixth overall pick and looks to be out of the league after just four years.
SF: Wesley Johnson
The Timberwolves won just 15 games in 2010 but slipped from second to fourth in the lottery. Minnesota had a young Kevin Love and Al Jefferson to go with a young backcourt. They needed a wing, so the Wolves took a chance on Johnson.
He turned 23 years old during his rookie season and had one of the best years of his career. Johnson lasted just two seasons in Minnesota where he averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game. He was traded with a second-round pick in a three-team deal that brought two second-rounders back.
Johnson played nine years in the league, but he was never more than a role player. He averaged just 7.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per game for his career. With the fourth overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves should have tried to acquire a star, but it never panned out.
Paul George, Gordon Hayward, and DeMarcus Cousins were all still on the board when the Timberwolves drafted Johnson. Imagine PG or a prime Hayward in Minnesota next to Kevin Love. It could have happened if they nailed this pick, but the Timberwolves busted big time in 2010.
PF: Derrick Williams
The Timberwolves won 17 games in 2011 and had the worst record in the NBA, but they slipped to second overall in the lottery. Kevin Love made his first All-Star appearance, but the team needed a lot more talent if they wanted contend in the difficult Western Conference.
Minnesota went with Williams second overall, and they hoped the 6’8 forward would blossom into a star. He was coming off a dominant second college season where he was a consensus All-American.
Williams lasted just two and a half seasons with the Timberwolves, where he averaged 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game. He was traded for journeyman Luc Mbah a Moute in 2013 and bounced around the league for four more years. He last played in 2018 at just 26 years old.
The 2011 NBA Draft was chock-full of stars as Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Kemba Walker, and Isaiah Thomas all went after Williams. Kyrie Irving was the only player selected over the 6’8 forward. Imagine Kawhi joining the Wolves back in 2011.
This is arguably the Minnesota Timberwolves’ biggest draft blunder, but they have not missed more at a position than center.
C: Justin Patton
There were four worthy options for this spot, but Patton won out because of his lack of games. The 16th overall pick in 2017 played in just 22 total NBA games over four seasons. He saw action in just one for Minnesota as a rookie before being traded to Philadelphia in the Jimmy Butler deal.
Patton is only 26 years old and played for Cholet in France last season. The draft bust could return to the NBA at some point to change the narrative, but that does not appear to be happening anytime soon.
It is worth noting, Patton was technically drafted by Chicago, but he was part of the Butler trade that brought him to Minnesota. John Collins, Jarrett Allen, OG Anunoby, Kyle Kuzma, Derrick White, and Josh Hart were all taken in the first round after Patton.
Fans can argue that Luc Longley or Felton Spencer should have been the selection here. Both were top-seven picks that had decade-long careers as fringe starters at the five. Longley won three championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, and Spencer was a starter on two playoff teams.
Paul Grant was the 20th pick in 1997, and he played just 16 NBA games in his career. The Minnesota Timberwolves took chances on plenty of big men, but it has not always worked out.
Can the Wolves turn their draft record around under Tim Connelly? It won’t be easy after Minnesota dealt much of their draft capital to Utah for Rudy Gobert. They will still get chances, and the Timberwolves hope to avoid changing this list anytime soon. Stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.
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