Recently, CBS Sports ranked the NBA's biggest "what ifs" from the past 25 years. Unsurprisingly, what if the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Steph Curry was No. 1 on this list. While the Wolves are well-positioned now, this decision set the franchise back for years, and without a doubt, they would be better off with Curry.
The most haunting aspect of passing on Curry is that the Wolves infamously did so twice and even drafted two point guards ahead of him. That's right, the Wolves drafted Spanish guard Ricky Rubio at pick No. 5 and Syracuse's Jonny Flynn at No. 6, just one spot ahead of Curry. Even at the time, taking Flynn with the No. 6 pick was a massive risk given that he was 6-foot flat and Curry was more proven in college. Of course, Steph was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the No. 7 pick.
Rubio would have a solid and underrated 12-year career, but Flynn was a massive bust who was out of the league after just three seasons. I think we all know how Steph turned out, but just as a reminder, he became a four-time champion, two-time MVP (first and only unanimous MVP), and revolutionized the game with his 3-point shooting. This marked the first of many mistakes in the David Kahn era.
The Timberwolves drafting Curry is an all-time what if
Some will point out that Curry and his camp asked the Wolves not to draft him. However, it's worth noting that Rubio also initially didn't want to join the Wolves. When the talent is available, you should have no choice but to take him.
As the Wolves tried to rebuild in the post-Kevin Garnett era, passing on Curry became an infamous mistake. The Wolves would miss the playoffs up until the 2017-18 season, and they wouldn't make consecutive playoff appearances until 2023. Minnesota truly didn't recover from this mistake until Anthony Edwards rose to stardom.
It's hard not to imagine what the Wolves would look like if they had drafted Curry. They already had Kevin Love, who they were eventually forced to trade in 2014. However, with Curry in the mix, this could have been one of the league's best duos.
Sure, the Wolves front office at the time wasn't very competent. Regardless, it's hard to squander having two legit stars, and the Wolves would have likely invested in the supporting cast more, given that this duo would already be talented enough for some level of playoff success.
The Wolves never won more than 40 games with Love. However, Curry is a generational talent, and he would have been able to change that. It's hard not to believe that Curry wouldn't have been Curry wherever he went. The Davidson product has recorded over 4,000 made 3s, while James Harden is the only other player to record over 3,000.
Curry changed the Warriors' franchise trajectory, and he would have done the same with the Timberwolves, especially since they already had a co-star for him. While it's unclear if Curry would have been able to win four championships with Minnesota, he would likely have been able to bring home at least one, which would have given the Wolves their first championship in franchise history.
Another important thing to note about Curry is that he is extremely loyal, meaning there's a good chance he would have stayed with the Wolves throughout his career, especially if he won a title with them.
The Wolves drafting Curry would have a major ripple effect
It's also worth wondering the ripple effect Minnesota drafting Curry would have had across the league. The Warriors, of course, wouldn't be the franchise they are today. But how would they have recovered? For argument's sake, let's assume they still draft Klay Thompson in 2011 and Draymond Green the following year. Are they able to find a star to complete this core? Does Klay become a legit No. 1 option? Is Draymond still Draymond without Curry? Do the Warriors find a way to become anything close to a championship team? Does Kevin Durant stay with OKC in 2016?
These are questions that will never be answered. Just like we'll never truly know what Curry's career would have looked like with the Wolves. There lies the beauty of a what if. It can be talked about and debated for decades without a true answer. However, one thing is for sure: Minnesota will always regret passing on Curry.