The Minnesota Timberwolves, who just had their finest season in 20 years, have two selections in the NBA Draft, which gets underway on Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004 after winning 56 games during the regular season. On Wednesday night, they will have the 27th selection in the first round and the 37th pick in the second round.
The Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004 after winning 56 games during the regular season. On Wednesday night, they will have the 27th selection in the first round and the 37th pick in the second round.
What are they going to do with the 27th overall pick? Reasonably speaking, the signals point to guard depth if they don’t move it. Although Mike Conley Jr., who will turn 37 in October, played in 76 games last season, the Timberwolves signed him to a two-year agreement during the previous campaign. It makes perfect sense that Tim Connelly, Chris Finch, and the rest of the team would look to choose Conley’s replacement at guard in this year’s draft.
So, what are your options? Four names to consider are as follows:
The Timberwolves are drafting Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. at No. 27 overall in a few mock drafts. Last season, he led the Illini in scoring with an average of 23 points, four rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc. He was in town last week for a pre-draft workout with the Timberwolves.
He was also suspended for a portion of the previous year following allegations of sexual assault and rape. He was found not guilty of all counts related to the event earlier this month. How it would affect his NBA Draft prospects is unclear.
Former Houston guard Jamal Shead is a predicted early second round choice who might be a value for any NBA team looking for a guard with experience. On a Houston team that finished as one of the best in the nation the previous season, he averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. He trained with the Timberwolves before to the draft. If Minnesota decides it would be too much to use a first round choice on him, he may be available at 37.
Don’t ignore Cam Christie to the Timberwolves at No. 27, even if he may not be a point guard in the traditional meaning of the term. Christie was a Gophers player for one season before filing to enter the NBA Draft. He shot 39 percent from three point range and finished each game with an average of 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Max, his elder brother, plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Cam is a dedicated worker who will improve the next business that hires him.
The Timberwolves’ thoughts will be revealed as early as Wednesday night.