Back in 2022, Wendell Moore Jr. was selected with the 26th overall pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired him in a draft-day deal for the 29th pick (TyTy Washington Jr.) and two future second-round picks.
Two years later, Moore was a sunk cost, so much so that the Wolves had to include the 36th pick along with him to send to the Detroit Pistons for the 53rd pick.
On The Dane Moore NBA Podcast, Jace Frederick of The Pioneer Press presented a good point about how it seems Minnesota has changed their draft philosophy since then.
“I think Wendell Moore Jr. becoming a bust was a sliding doors moment in the way Tim Connelly has approached assets on this team.” Frederick said. “I think Wendell Moore is so different than everybody else that the Wolves have brought in…that was the ultimate collective player…ever since then, it’s been exclusively upside picks.”
When listening to what Frederick said, Rob Dillingham was likely the first player that came to the mind of most listeners.
The Wolves have favored upside after Wendell Moore
It was during the 2024 NBA Draft that the Timberwolves made the ill-fated trade to acquire the eighth overall pick from the San Antonio Spurs. They moved into the first round by giving up a 2031 first and the right to swap firsts in 2030.
Dillingham spent one season playing at Kentucky before becoming a lottery pick. Sure, he is a bit undersized, but the Wolves believed the lights-out shooting he showcased would translate. Not even through two seasons, Dillingham was traded to the Chicago Bulls (at least Minnesota got Ayo Dosunmu in that deal).
This past year, Joan Beringer was taken 17th overall. Just 18 years old when drafted, and not having even played the sport all that long, it was the definition of picking for potential. Beringer did show some of that potential as a rookie, but the jury is still out on how the pick will pan out since he didn’t play all that much.
Jaylen Clark was a late second-round pick (53rd overall) in 2023, and the Timberwolves knew he would need to sit out his first year after tearing his Achilles at UCLA. They believed in his defense, and while they have proven to be right there, he hasn’t shown enough on the offensive side to be counted on when the games are meaningful.
Moore spent three years at Duke before joining the NBA. Personally, it’s hard for me to call a late first-round pick a bust because more often than not, they don’t have productive, lengthy careers.
Still, the Timberwolves had to expect more than 54 games and 228 minutes from Moore in his two years with the team. While it can’t be proven that Minnesota changed its draft philosophy (keep in mind they also selected an older prospect in Terrence Shannon Jr. in 2024), there is evidence to suggest they may have.
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