Crafty guard could be a massive draft day steal if he falls to the Wolves

The NBA Draft is nearing, and teams are evaluating what prospects they should target. One of the Minnesota Timberwolves' top priorities this offseason will be surrounding Anthony Edwards with more playmaking and shot-creation. Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis would provide that coveted skill set. The Lithuanian guard averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 44/31.8/84.5 shooting splits in his lone college season. Let's explore Jakucionis' game and his fit with the Wolves.

Jakucionis' playmaking and finishing would benefit the Wolves

At 6-foot-6, Jakucionis' combination of size and playmaking prowess makes him a special prospect. In addition to Jakucionis' 4.7 assists per game, he posted an impressive 26 assist rate. Jakucionis loves to operate in the pick-and-roll and makes pinpoint passes. He's one of the most skilled passers in the class and can make flashy passes at will. This skill set allows Jakucionis to control the game with his passing and elevate his teammates. Jakucionis is also an elite driver; he uses his crafty ball handling and size to constantly generate rim pressure. This also allows Jakucionis to find open teammates on drive-and-kick plays.

Impressively, Jakucionis averaged 5.1 free throws per game. Jakucionis' shot-creation and finishing complement his playmaking nicely, especially given his elite positional size. When he played at his best, Jakucionis looked like a top-five pick. With Jakucionis on the court, Illinois posted a stellar 26.8 net rating via Hoop-Explorer. Jakucionis' combination of shot-creation, finishing, and playmaking would help solve some of the Wolves' biggest problems.

While Rob Dillingham will be in line for a bigger role next season, he and Jakucionis could co-exist, especially in the long term. The two guards different skill sets and sizes would allow them to fit together. It's unclear what role both players would play next season if the Wolves draft Jakucionis. Nevertheless, drafting Jakucionis could shore up the Wolves' future point guard rotation as both he and Dillingham could have sizable roles after Mike Conley retires.

The rest of Jakucionis' game

Jakucionis' 31.8 percent three-point shooting doesn't do him justice. He has good fundamentals and shot a higher percentage (84.5) from the charity stripe. Furthermore, Jakucionis made plenty of difficult 3-point shots throughout the season. Jakucionis' questionable shot selection and 5.2 attempts per game undoubtedly hurt his three-point percentage. This will be a key area of improvement for Jakucionis at the NBA level. His decision-making as a ballhandler must improve, as he averaged 3.7 turnovers with a 22.7 percent turnover rate. Jakucionis struggled especially when he faced double teams or defensive pressure.

Regardless, the upside and skill are certainly there. At the NBA level, Jakucionis won't have the same responsibilities or face the same defensive pressure that he did at Illinois. Notably, he posted a 24.2 usage rate in college. In the NBA, Jakucionis will be counted on for playmaking and to generate rim pressure as well as occasional shooting; this role would maximize his strengths.

Jakucionis' lateral quickness brings up questions about his defense at the next level. Still, his size and basketball IQ give him a chance to overcome these concerns. There's a world where he becomes at least a neutral or even slightly positive defender. His rebounding (5.7 boards per game) is also plus and gives him an avenue to make a defensive impact. On the Wolves, Jakucionis would be surrounded by an elite defense, which would certainly benefit him.

Is Jakucionis a realistic target for the Wolves?

Jakucionis was a consensus lottery pick for most of the draft cycle. Chances are he still ends up in the lottery, however, he seems to be trending down a bit. If Jakucionis falls, it will likely be due to concerns about some of his inconsistencies displayed in college. Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor is one analyst who expects him to slip. In his latest mock draft, he has Jakucionis falling to Minnesota at 17.

Someone has to fall out of the lottery with several prospects rising. Similar to BYU's Egor Demin Jakucionis' combination of size and playmaking would make him a perfect fit with the Wolves. However, Jakucionis' shot creation offers a bit more upside. Ultimately, Jakucionis' skill set and upside make him a clear fit with the Wolves.