The NBA Draft is just one day away, and time is ticking down for teams to make their choices on which prospects to bring in. The Minnesota Timberwolves do not currently possess a first-round selection, but there is always the chance they could acquire one on or before draft night.
With rumors of several teams being open to trading their lottery picks, Minnesota would likely end up with a high pick if they choose to deal away Karl-Anthony Towns in a draft night trade. But if they stand pat, the Timberwolves’ only current selection in the 2023 NBA Draft will come at 53rd.
There is always plenty of talent to be found in the second round of the draft. Just look at Nikola Jokic, who was drafted 41st overall in 2014 and just took home the Finals MVP award. Of course, the Timberwolves cannot expect to pick up as rare a talent as the Joker, but they can still find a hidden gem. There are a few lesser-known players they should be keeping their eyes on.
1. Jalen Pickett, Penn State
One player for Minnesota to keep an on eye is Penn State point guard Jalen Pickett. Last season, he guided the Nittany Lions to an NCAA tournament appearance after an improbable run in the Big 10 conference tournament.
Leading Penn State in points, rebounds, assists and steals for the season, Pickett showed he has a well-rounded skillset that could lead to a future in the NBA. Weighing in at 210 pounds and standing 6-foot-4, he already has decent size to be a ball-handler at the professional level.
Pickett shot the ball well enough with 51/38/77% shooting splits to have solid scoring potential at the next level. At 23 years old, he is the kind of grizzled veteran that may adapt to the style of play in the NBA quicker than his peers.
In general, players who are very versatile like Pickett have a low chance of being a bust. He would provide good value at 53rd overall, and could prove to be an excellent replacement if the Timberwolves decide to move on from Jordan McLaughlin.
2. Jordan Miller, Miami
Arguably the second-best player on Miami’s 2023 final four team, Jordan Miller is another well-rounded offensive player that could be a worthy gamble for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Miller’s versatility fools many because of his perceived lack of size.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Miller is a high-IQ player that makes the right reads and knows his place within the flow of an offense. In fact, he possesses many of the skills you see from a Draymond Green or Ben Simmons at the professional level.
Miller is not going to wow you with his handles or driving ability, but he is an above-average playmaker and is excellent in transition. He projects as a player that could potentially be used in a variety of lineups, especially if his shooting from distance picks up.
One of Miller’s most valuable traits is how well he moves off-ball. At Miami, it allowed for freedom of movement within the offense and made the Hurricanes less predictable. It also allowed his finishing ability to shine, as Miller shot 60% on two-point shots for the season last year.
The Timberwolves may be interested in picking up Jordan Miller in the hopes that he could become something similar to what Kyle Anderson is now. If he can ever reach that level, he would be an absolute steal at 53rd.
3. Emoni Bates, Eastern Michigan
One of the more recognizable names projected to be taken in the second round, Emoni Bates has some of the most raw talent of any player in his draft class. Originally projected as a lottery pick when his college career began in 2021, Bates’ draft positioning has slipped a bit, but he remains an excellent sleeper pick.
Bates began his college career at the University of Memphis, but transferred after a few unfortunate injuries that limited his playing time. At Eastern Michigan, his natural scoring ability blossomed and he put up 19.2 points per game in 30 contests for the Eagles.
NBA scouts have been high on Bates from the beginning largely because of his height. Standing 6-foot-9, it is rare for a player with that much size to have the degree of shooting touch he possesses. Add in the fact that he has shown an ability to get his own shot from all three levels, and it becomes very intriguing to think about Bates’ ceiling.
One of the biggest knocks on Emoni Bates’ game is that he does not score efficiently, as he shot just 40% from the floor for his college career. If the Timberwolves believe they can work with him on his shot form and/or improve his shot selection, Bates could be a big time pickup toward the end of the second round.