With the 45th overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Australian big man Rocco Zikarsky. This represents the Wolves' second upside swing of the draft after they took Joan Beringer with the 17th pick. In the second-round, getting a player who will be productive immediately is rare. Nevertheless, the Wolves had clear weaknesses to fill, most notably, playmaking, and they opted to draft two upside yet raw big men. This can be seen as somewhat questionable.
Furthermore, the Wolves traded back twice in the second-round. The first trade-back was logical, given they moved back five spots and got two extra second-round picks. However, in the second trade, they moved back nine spots and only got cash in return.
Zikarsky is a massive swing
Playing for the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL league, Zikarsky averaged 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks on 52.4 percent shooting from the field. At 18, the 7-foot-3 giant has clear upside but also lacks polish, similar to Beringer. It's unclear how the Wolves will be able to develop both project players.
Zikarsky is a play finisher and lob threat on offense. Defensively, he is a quality shot blocker and rebounder with his elite size. However, unlike Beringer, Zikarsky isn't an elite athlete or highly versatile. It's possible Zikarsky, will carve out an NBA role, but he is still very raw. One scenario to watch is the Wolves stashing Zikarsky to keep a roster spot open and save money.
By taking Zikarsky, the Wolves missed a chance to fill their main need of playmaking. This flaw was on full display during the Western Conference Finals. Currently, Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham are the Wolves' lone point guards. West Virginia's Javon Small, who went just three picks later, would have been a clear target to fill this need. The Wolves draft is a clear vote of confidence in Dillingham, which is understandable given his immense upside. Nevertheless, it's pretty surprising that Minnesota drafted two project centers with their picks.