The 2026 NBA Draft is officially less than a month away as the first-round takes place on June 23. Barring a trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be making their first selection 28th overall (also have the 59th overall pick in the second round).
HoopsHype has been tracking each team’s pre-draft workouts so far as the day that the new crop of rookies first join the league is fast approaching. The Wolves have had four players confirmed, one of whom is point guard Ebuka Okorie.
The Timberwolves could certainly use some extra perimeter shot creation off the bench, making Okorie a logical target.
Okorie would be a strong fit with the TimberwolvesÂ
In his one year playing collegiately at Stanford, Okorie proved to be one of the nation’s most explosive scorers. While underclassmen have until May 27 to take their name out of the draft and spend another year in school, Okorie has stated that he will remain in the draft.
A first-team All-ACC member as a freshman, Okorie led the conference, averaging 23.2 points on shooting percentage splits of 46.5/35.4/83.2. Okorie had eight outings of at least 30 points, which includes a fantastic 40-point performance against Georgia Tech in early February. This level of college scoring bodes well for Okorie's NBA outlook both in the short and long term.
The 19-year-old also averaged 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals.Â
While Okorie measured at just 6-foot-1.25 without shoes, he has a clear plus wingspan of 6-foot-7.75. That helps him finish at the rim, where he frequently visits, while also possessing a high steal rate. He can be masterful at drawing fouls, as evidenced by the 7.3 attempts from the foul line that he averaged per game. Okorie's quick first step and fluidity as a shot creator give him plenty of upside.
Undoubtedly, Okorie is the type of player that Minnesota should look for in the draft. He can be the lead guard off the bench for the Timberwolves and also be a three-level scorer. He would take the role that Bones Hyland played this year for the team if the soon-to-be free agent doesn’t re-sign.
For a Wolves team that ranked within the bottom 10 for bench scoring this season, Okorie's presence would be vital. He also has the upside to become a long-term fit alongside Anthony Edwards in the backcourt.
Yes, the New Hampshire native seems like a great fit late in the first-round, but he may not be available when Minnesota is first on the clock.
Jeremy Woo of ESPN has Okorie going 23rd to the Atlanta Hawks in his latest mock draft. FanSided’s Christopher Kline has him being selected even earlier, 21st to the Detroit Pistons.
A lot can happen, and we’ve seen players slide from where they’re expected to be drafted before. In a deep draft, though, the Wolves should be able to find a quality player with the 28th pick.
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