2023 NBA Draft: Timberwolves trial a sextet of rookies
By Bret Stuter
On point
Point guard Mike Miles Jr. out of TCU is a 6-foot-2 195-pound point guard who definitely fills a needed role for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He can score points, direct the floor, and has a sweet forte for running the pick-and-roll. Best of all, he can score from the perimeter, which is a skill that could give him an edge in landing a shot on the Timberwolves roster on draft day.
Guard Damion Baugh out of TCU is Miles’s teammate, which could be an interesting turn of events for the Timberwolves’ draft day decision. Baugh is a bit larger than Miles, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 195 pounds. He may not be in the running for primary ball handler, but he does have the aura of a solid three-and-D wing in the future.
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Winging it
Forward Marcellus Earlington out of San Diego competed for three seasons at St. Johns before transferring to San Diego. It was not until he competed for two seasons at San Diego that his production really ascended. He is a big body, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing in at a burly 240 pounds. He brings a solid forward presence to the basketball court, including scoring, rebounding, and an arsenal of shots to keep piling up points.
Shooting guard/small forward Caleb McConnell hails from Rutgers and is really someone to keep an eye on. Rookie prospects tend to be a dime a dozen on the offensive side of the basketball court but are worth their weight in gold on defense. McConnell is a defensive savant.
Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing just 198 pounds, he has that long lanky presence that can disrupt opponents with long-reach steals, arms that shield passing lanes, and a ferocious rebounder. He is not a productive scorer yet, but given time he could develop into a well-round NBA player.