All Things 2022 Minnesota Timberwolves Off-Season Thread

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GopherWeatherGuy said:
Every media member does that. ARod and Lore will have control eventually.
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I agree that every media member does that. The distinction is that these guys don't own the team.

I don't think they will have control of the team. The rumors are they are looking for outside money. Whoever provides the dough for majority control will have majority control. Those guys don't have that kind of money or they would own the team.
 

jamiche said:
I agree that every media member does that. The distinction is that these guys don't own the team.

I don't think they will have control of the team. The rumors are they are looking for outside money. Whoever provides the dough for majority control will have majority control. Those guys don't have that kind of money or they would own the team.
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You have to have multiple billions to own a controlling interest, let alone fully own. Lore and A-Roid don't have nearly enough between them.
 

TruthSeeker said:
You have to have multiple billions to own a controlling interest, let alone fully own. Lore and A-Roid don't have nearly enough between them.
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Yup. Not even close. They are very wealthy guys by normal standards, but not NBA standards. They should be trying to buy a soccer team.

It would benefit all principals for ARod and Lore not to secure the funds to complete the transaction. I'm sure that Taylor is trying to wiggle out of the deal because the franchise is worth well over the $1.6B agreed upon price, even with the economically obsolete arena. Phil Knight just offered $2B for the smaller market Blazers with a pretty old building. The Broncos just sold for $4.6B to a Walton. ARod and Lore have made an excellent LP investment. We know Lore and Rod will try to move the team. (Yes, we do know they will try to move the team. Don't be fooled by the rah-rah stuff and corporate jargon. If they manage to buy the team, four years from now it will be figuratively five minutes to midnight at the legislature and the moving trucks will be parked in front of TC.). It's possible another buyer will look at our market and team differently.
 

Wonder if besides that life changing contract, Connelly signed because of the upcoming sale of the Nuggets?
 
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Iceland12 said:
Wonder if besides that life changing contract, Connelly signed because of the upcoming sale of the Nuggets?
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Why would that matter? He allegedly doesn’t know who the Wolves future owners will be either 😏
 


Jonny K. interview with Connelly from 6/9.

The Wolves’ biggest need comes in the frontcourt. They were pounded on the offensive glass by the Memphis Grizzlies in their first-round playoff loss and were one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the regular season. There are not a ton of big, burly dudes projected to be available when the Wolves pick in the first round — Duke big man Mark Williams would appear to be an ideal fit but is projected by our Sam Vecenie to go 13th to center-needy Charlotte — so Connelly could look to address that through free agency or trade. Auburn center Walker Kessler, who at 7-foot-1 would immediately be the tallest player on the Wolves, is another option who could be around at No. 19 if they choose to go size over one of the many wings who could be available, including LSU’s Tari Eason, G League Ignite’s Jaden Hardy and MarJon Beauchamp and Ochai Agbaji of Kansas. All of these names are purely speculative and based on estimates of availability, not particularly on the Wolves’ known interest in them as prospects.

“We feel good about adding another valuable piece, a good player at 19,” Connelly said. “There will potentially be some pretty cool opportunities to use that as a trade asset as well. Anytime you have four draft picks, it’s exciting. It’s the one day of the year where you really control what you can do, largely.”

Asking a 19- or 20-year-old to come into the league and provide muscle right away in a significant role could be a lot anyway. Coach Chris Finch said late last month that adding toughness will be the key for the Wolves as they try to build on the success they had this season. It also could come from internal development and growth from players such as Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels and Jarred Vanderbilt.

“I think we learned we need to get a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, a little bit tougher,” Finch said. “Some of that is just getting older as a team. Some of it is working on our bodies, and some of it is just mindset. At times that is what I felt let us down a little bit in the playoffs, is just our physicality.”..

theathletic.com

Tim Connelly on the NBA Draft, his Timberwolves front-office staff and more

"It's fun to have these new colleagues. It's fun to have this new city," Minnesota's president of basketball operations said.
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 

Report: D'Angelo Russell being 'shopped around' by Timberwolves​

After D'Angelo Russell no-showed in Minnesota's first round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Timberwolves' point guard situation entering next season appears to be in flux.

Just over a week before the NBA Draft, the Timberwolves are reportedly exploring trade suitors for Russell. The report comes from The Ringer insider Kevin O'Conner, who specifically says "Russell is being shopped around."

Russell, 26, is entering the final year of his contract. That in and of itself is incredibly valuable considering whichever team he plays for could clear $31 million from the salary cap ahead of next summer's free-agent class, which may include Ja Morant, Bradley Beal, Khris Middleton, Nikola Jokic, Kyrie Irving and Fred VanVleet, not to mention aging stars like LeBron James, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Of course, an expiring contract isn't the only thing attractive about Russell. Keep in mind that he's still quite young, plays a premium position, and has a track record of being a clutch scorer. It didn't work out that way in the playoffs for the Timberwolves, but they definitely don't win 46 games without him.

www.si.com

Report: D'Angelo Russell being 'shopped around' by Timberwolves - Sports Illustrated Minnesota Sports, News, Analysis, and More

Is D'Lo's time in Minnesota over?
www.si.com www.si.com

Howl Wolves!!
 

Meanwhile, I absolutely despise Andrew Wiggins. What a loser!
 

kg21 said:
Meanwhile, I absolutely despise Andrew Wiggins. What a loser!
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Wiggins led the Warriors to their 104-94 victory over the Boston Celtics in Monday night's Game 5, finishing with 26 points on 12-of-23 shooting, 13 rebounds, two steals, two assists and one block as Golden State took a 3-2 series lead.

"We knew we needed his athleticism and defense and his versatility. We had no idea that he would make this kind of contribution," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "But I think it's a reminder that for every -- almost every player in the NBA, circumstances are everything. You kind of need to find the right place, the right teammates, that kind of stuff. Wiggs has been a great fit."..

www.espn.com

Wiggins sparks win as Warriors laud fit with team

Andrew Wiggins finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds for his second straight double-double and led the Warriors' defensive effort in their pivotal Game 5 win over the Celtics on Monday night.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 



Engaged Wiggins has always been a good player. His engagement is just far too infrequent for a max player, even in GS. There he has multiple stars to pick up the slack for the 70% of games he sleepwalks through.
 

https://www.nba.com/news/reborn-and-renewed-andrew-wiggins-savors-finals-journey-with-warriors

From 6/1/22

The biggest one, obviously, is how he was unworthy of being a No. 1 overall Draft pick. The story of how this small forward found a home with the Golden State Warriors cannot be told without explaining how it wasn’t quite right for nearly six years with the Timberwolves. Comebacks are like that, and it’s what makes these tales endearing, and the person in question easy to root for, and what lies in the future — in this case, the upcoming 2022 NBA Finals — so intriguing.

“I’m thankful,” Wiggins said. “It’s a beautiful story. Lots of ups and downs.”

In 2014, he was the top prize of the Draft. In such instances, the player drafted is immediately saddled, or perhaps cursed, with widespread anticipation of greatness. And in the case of Wiggins, those high hopes weren’t too far-fetched if only because they seemed like an organic destiny..

Then his production and efficiency dropped after Wiggins signed a rookie max extension for $148 million, making him Minnesota’s highest-paid player since Kevin Garnett. Except he didn’t deliver anywhere near the level of the former MVP. The All-Star appointments never came. Hell, not even a single Player of the Week award.

Wiggins was decent enough. He just wasn’t great, and that was his crime. Had he been the No. 10 pick, for example, nobody would care. And, true to his easygoing nature, Wiggins wasn’t fiery or very expressive on the floor, bringing the unfair assumption that he didn’t care..

During this time, Wiggins was a bit better than Golden State anticipated. His 3-point shooting improved. He meshed with the system. Nothing stupendous, but still. Wiggins averaged 18.6 ppg in his first full season with the Warriors (2020-21) on a career-best 47.7% shooting.

“Wiggs has an understanding of the nuances of winning basketball and how to key in on the little things,” Curry said. “Consistent effort on defense, taking those one-on-one challenges, being aggressive on the offensive end, using his athletic ability to get to the rim if he needs to, confidence shooting the 3. It’s the things that help you win.”..

As Draymond Green said: “We want Wiggs to be Wiggs.”

Then in these playoffs, “Wiggs” was something else: He went to work. All the breathless athleticism and bounce and reflexes came together, especially in the Dallas series where Wiggins was the first line of defense against Doncic. He also had furious stretches of scoring, with pull-up jumpers and drives off the dribble. He played wisely, seldom forcing shots, searched for his comfort zone and seized opportunities to strike.

“On the biggest stage,” Green said, “he’s come through.”

With his two-way ability, Wiggins at 6-foot-7 and just 27 years old is the new (though not as accomplished) Andre Iguodala, a wing defender with the ability to guard primary scorers and also get buckets when necessary.

“If they need me to score, I’m going to score,” he said. “If they need me to defend, I’m going to defend, rebound, whatever..
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Engaged Wiggins has always been a good player. His engagement is just far too infrequent for a max player, even in GS. There he has multiple stars to pick up the slack for the 70% of games he sleepwalks through.
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16 rebounds in game 4, 13 last night........picking up guys at midcourt and being in their face with all his might all over the court.

You were lucky if he had a 3 rebound game in a wolves uniform, and he literally walked up and down the court most times. He couldn't have cared less about anything.

Now he tries and plays. I despise this clown. He stole money from the wolves like no one else.
 
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Well ever since I've walked I've heard men talk
About the one that got away
I've heard old men call
I've seen young men crawl
For the one that got away
And in their darkest hours
You can hear them say
I'd give all I got
For just one more shot
At the one that got away

(The Rainmakers)
 


short ornery norwegian said:
Well ever since I've walked I've heard men talk
About the one that got away
I've heard old men call
I've seen young men crawl
For the one that got away
And in their darkest hours
You can hear them say
I'd give all I got
For just one more shot
At the one that got away

(The Rainmakers)
Click to expand...

People don't seem to be pining for "the one that got away." More of a "we traded Wiggins and Kuminga and all we got was Russell?" kind of thing.

Though if you're pining for Wiggins go right ahead.:)
 
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www.startribune.com

D'Angelo Russell reportedly being 'shopped around' by Timberwolves, but will they find a buyer?

The Wolves wanting to trade Russell isn't the same as another team agreeing to it.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Four days after a potential Game 7, the NBA will hold its draft next week. The new league year will start a week later, and then on July 6 players can start signing with — and being traded to — new teams..

On the same day Wiggins — the player shipped to Golden State along with what became the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft in exchange for Russell — dropped 26 and 13, the Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wrote this in his latest mock draft in which he projects Kentucky guard TyTy Washington to the Wolves at No. 19

It's not the first time that's been suggested, nor will it be the last. But it appeared to catch the eye of D-Lo, who tweeted (and then soon deleted) "hey world I'm shopping" on Monday.

The Wolves wanting to trade Russell, who has one year left on a hefty contract that will pay him $30 million next season, is not the same as another team agreeing to it.

But Russell is a useful — albeit, like Wiggins, overpaid — enough player, and expiring contracts are tradeable even when players aren't useful.

The Wolves have four picks in next week's draft, including three second-rounders. That's a lot of assets that could help facilitate a Russell trade.

It's also worth remembering this, though: The player the Wolves couldn't wait to get rid of a little over two years ago is on the brink of winning an NBA title..
 

Iceland12 said:
www.startribune.com

D'Angelo Russell reportedly being 'shopped around' by Timberwolves, but will they find a buyer?

The Wolves wanting to trade Russell isn't the same as another team agreeing to it.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Four days after a potential Game 7, the NBA will hold its draft next week. The new league year will start a week later, and then on July 6 players can start signing with — and being traded to — new teams..

On the same day Wiggins — the player shipped to Golden State along with what became the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft in exchange for Russell — dropped 26 and 13, the Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wrote this in his latest mock draft in which he projects Kentucky guard TyTy Washington to the Wolves at No. 19

It's not the first time that's been suggested, nor will it be the last. But it appeared to catch the eye of D-Lo, who tweeted (and then soon deleted) "hey world I'm shopping" on Monday.

The Wolves wanting to trade Russell, who has one year left on a hefty contract that will pay him $30 million next season, is not the same as another team agreeing to it.

But Russell is a useful — albeit, like Wiggins, overpaid — enough player, and expiring contracts are tradeable even when players aren't useful.

The Wolves have four picks in next week's draft, including three second-rounders. That's a lot of assets that could help facilitate a Russell trade.

It's also worth remembering this, though: The player the Wolves couldn't wait to get rid of a little over two years ago is on the brink of winning an NBA title..
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Dumb last paragraph. Wiggins will only ever be the 3rd or 4th best player on a championship caliber team.

You don't build around that type of player. But the media sure loves that story line. Woe is me!
 

TruthSeeker said:
Dumb last paragraph. Wiggins will only ever be the 3rd or 4th best player on a championship caliber team.

You don't build around that type of player. But the media sure loves that story line. Woe is me!
Click to expand...

Didn't read it as a "woe is me" about Wiggins. Read it as a warning not to rush into and overpay just to get rid of Russell.

Just like they overpaid to trade Wiggins.
 

Iceland12 said:
Didn't read it as a "woe is me" about Wiggins. Read it as a warning not to rush into and overpay just to get rid of Russell.

Just like they overpaid to trade Wiggins.
Click to expand...

The Wolves may have not made the playoffs with Wiggins on the roster this season instead of DLo.
 



TruthSeeker said:
Dumb last paragraph. Wiggins will only ever be the 3rd or 4th best player on a championship caliber team.

You don't build around that type of player. But the media sure loves that story line. Woe is me!
Click to expand...
He's in play for finals MVP!
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Where did I say that?

Russell is a better player, better leader, and more affordable than Wiggins.
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Thought that Wiggins would never be a #1 or #2 guy, but they overpaid to get Russell. Who has only had one great year in the NBA, plus a few months over two seasons. They should build around Towns and Edwards. Hope they can get a big man to spell and play along Towns and they really need shooters.

You think Russell is the player who got the Wolves into the playoffs, it was a great trade and now you think they should keep him, but you still want the Wolves to get rid of Towns.

Okay then. A difference of opinion. Unless you've been just been being a troll.

Perish the thought huh?
 
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Iceland12 said:
So Russell is the player who got the Wolves into then playoffs and it was a great trade and now you think they should keep him, but you still want the Wolves to get rid of Towns. Okay then.
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What are you talking about? Thinking he's better than Wiggins for the current Wolves team and keeping him long term are two entirely different things. It's not difficult to comprehend.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Where did I say that?

Russell is a better player, better leader, and more affordable than Wiggins.
Click to expand...
Both players are complimentary with enough ability to tease fan bases. Wiggins' play in the finals is reminiscent of the kind of games he would have for the wolves every 2-3 weeks. After each of those games the media commentary of "he's turned the corner" would be everywhere. Now it's "he's matured and he's in the right system with GS." Nope. He still plays when he feels like it. He happens to feel like it this week.

Russell thinks he's better than he is and remains highly inconsistent. Overall, he's an average pg with wide variability.

I think their contracts are comparable.
 

jamiche said:
Both players are complimentary with enough ability to tease fan bases. Wiggins' play in the finals is reminiscent of the kind of games he would have for the wolves every 2-3 weeks. After each of those games the media commentary of "he's turned the corner" would be everywhere. Now it's "he's matured and he's in the right system with GS." Nope. He still plays when he feels like it. He happens to feel like it this week.

Russell thinks he's better than he is and remains highly inconsistent. Overall, he's an average pg with wide variability.

I think their contracts are comparable.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on Wiggins. Russell is inconsistent with his scoring, but his assist numbers remained consistent. He's still helping the team when he's not scoring, unlike Wiggins. DLo was in the top 10 among PG's in AST/game and middle of the pack in scoring, but he still averaged more PPG than Wiggins.

When KAT was whining his way to his worst game of the season in the play in game vs the Clippers, DLo was their best player in that game and had 29. If the Wolves had Wiggins and Kuminga over DLo, they would have been a worse team this season. The contracts are comparable, but the Wolves have still saved ~5 million over the final 3 years for a better player.

I like the idea of keeping DLo in a contract season, his best season was his last contract season. But if they can trade him for a good package, I'm ok with that as well.
 

per STrib:

But at No. 19 overall the Wolves are going to have a world of options, and high-profile NBA mock drafts around the country have taken notice. Here's a sampling of who think could be available for Minnesota when the draft gets underway on June 23.

ESPN.com: Walker Kessler, Auburn, C

  • "For a Minnesota team looking to take the next step defensively, drafting the NCAA's Defensive Player of the Year could make some sense, even if that means playing Kessler alongside a super-skilled 7-footer in Karl-Anthony Towns. ... Kessler is a steady offensive presence with his ability to catch difficult passes, hammer home lobs, finish with touch around the basket and make good decisions out of short rolls, which should make him a good fit in Minnesota's offense."
The Ringer: TyTy Washington, Kentucky, G

  • "D'Angelo Russell is being shopped around, so it makes sense for the Timberwolves to target a shot-creator with this selection. TyTy and Karl-Anthony Towns could make for a lethal pick-and-roll pairing, and with Anthony Edwards resembling a superstar in the playoffs (and in the movie Hustle) Minnesota would be equipped with a dynamic offense. Whatever Russell would return in a trade could only bolster their roster even more."
Sports Illustrated: Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee, G

  • "It is possible that Minnesota looks to move down a little in order to acquire other assets, but should he be a guy near the top of their draft board, Kennedy Chandler could be the perfect athletic guard for this team to bring in. The 19-year-old guard is an all-around playmaker that is not afraid to create opportunities for others. He barely turned the ball over at Tennessee and is a strong pick-and-roll ball-handler, making Chandler a nice fit in Minnesota where Karl-Anthony Towns and Jarred Vanderbilt are always setting screens to help their team play downhill towards the basket."
SB Nation: Blake Wesley, Notre Dame, G

  • "Minnesota has a potent 1-2 punch with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, but their D'Angelo Russell experiment hasn't been as successful as they hoped. In a draft class that lacks shot creators with burst, Wesley emerged as an unlikely one-and-done as the offensive engine of Notre Dame. Wesley can usually get anywhere he wants on the court with a killer first step, but his finishing needs improvement."
NBADraft.net: Ousmane Dieng, France, G/F

  • "Ousmane Dieng is the definition of a 'high ceiling – low floor' prospect … The sky is the limit, but if taken too high he can just as easily fall through the floorboards … The French wing surely passes the eye test, being a smooth point forward with nice size and length, having the ability to either score or create opportunities for his teammates."
CBS Sports: Wesley

  • "Minnesota needs help on the wing (doesn't everyone?) and I really like Wesley's fit here even if he's listed a bit lower on a lot of experts' big boards. His poor shooting percentages are the product of a lot of iso creation and playmaking that he won't have to do in NBA — at least not to start."
NBC Sports: E.J. Liddell, Ohio State, PF

  • "A junior at Ohio St., Liddell improved significantly all three years at school. He is now a legitimate outside threat, who can make plays off the dribble and has an advanced midrange fadeaway. Liddell is quick up and down the floor, with a strong build at 6-foot-7. He also blocks 2.5 shots per game. The trajectory he has shown so far of getting much better each year should be a great sign for any team that drafts him."
It's worth noting that the recent history of selections at No. 19 overall has a solid track record, including Avery Bradley (2010), Tobias Harris (2011), Gary Harris (2014), Malik Beasley (2016), John Collins (2017), Kevin Huerter (2018) and Saddiq Bey (2020).

www.startribune.com

Who will the Timberwolves select 19th overall in next week's NBA draft?

For only the second time in 18 years the team’s top pick falls outside the lottery. The latest mock drafts have players at every position ending up in Minnesota.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!
 

BleedGopher said:
per STrib:

But at No. 19 overall the Wolves are going to have a world of options, and high-profile NBA mock drafts around the country have taken notice. Here's a sampling of who think could be available for Minnesota when the draft gets underway on June 23.

ESPN.com: Walker Kessler, Auburn, C

  • "For a Minnesota team looking to take the next step defensively, drafting the NCAA's Defensive Player of the Year could make some sense, even if that means playing Kessler alongside a super-skilled 7-footer in Karl-Anthony Towns. ... Kessler is a steady offensive presence with his ability to catch difficult passes, hammer home lobs, finish with touch around the basket and make good decisions out of short rolls, which should make him a good fit in Minnesota's offense."
The Ringer: TyTy Washington, Kentucky, G

  • "D'Angelo Russell is being shopped around, so it makes sense for the Timberwolves to target a shot-creator with this selection. TyTy and Karl-Anthony Towns could make for a lethal pick-and-roll pairing, and with Anthony Edwards resembling a superstar in the playoffs (and in the movie Hustle) Minnesota would be equipped with a dynamic offense. Whatever Russell would return in a trade could only bolster their roster even more."
Sports Illustrated: Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee, G

  • "It is possible that Minnesota looks to move down a little in order to acquire other assets, but should he be a guy near the top of their draft board, Kennedy Chandler could be the perfect athletic guard for this team to bring in. The 19-year-old guard is an all-around playmaker that is not afraid to create opportunities for others. He barely turned the ball over at Tennessee and is a strong pick-and-roll ball-handler, making Chandler a nice fit in Minnesota where Karl-Anthony Towns and Jarred Vanderbilt are always setting screens to help their team play downhill towards the basket."
SB Nation: Blake Wesley, Notre Dame, G

  • "Minnesota has a potent 1-2 punch with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, but their D'Angelo Russell experiment hasn't been as successful as they hoped. In a draft class that lacks shot creators with burst, Wesley emerged as an unlikely one-and-done as the offensive engine of Notre Dame. Wesley can usually get anywhere he wants on the court with a killer first step, but his finishing needs improvement."
NBADraft.net: Ousmane Dieng, France, G/F

  • "Ousmane Dieng is the definition of a 'high ceiling – low floor' prospect … The sky is the limit, but if taken too high he can just as easily fall through the floorboards … The French wing surely passes the eye test, being a smooth point forward with nice size and length, having the ability to either score or create opportunities for his teammates."
CBS Sports: Wesley

  • "Minnesota needs help on the wing (doesn't everyone?) and I really like Wesley's fit here even if he's listed a bit lower on a lot of experts' big boards. His poor shooting percentages are the product of a lot of iso creation and playmaking that he won't have to do in NBA — at least not to start."
NBC Sports: E.J. Liddell, Ohio State, PF

  • "A junior at Ohio St., Liddell improved significantly all three years at school. He is now a legitimate outside threat, who can make plays off the dribble and has an advanced midrange fadeaway. Liddell is quick up and down the floor, with a strong build at 6-foot-7. He also blocks 2.5 shots per game. The trajectory he has shown so far of getting much better each year should be a great sign for any team that drafts him."
It's worth noting that the recent history of selections at No. 19 overall has a solid track record, including Avery Bradley (2010), Tobias Harris (2011), Gary Harris (2014), Malik Beasley (2016), John Collins (2017), Kevin Huerter (2018) and Saddiq Bey (2020).

www.startribune.com

Who will the Timberwolves select 19th overall in next week's NBA draft?

For only the second time in 18 years the team’s top pick falls outside the lottery. The latest mock drafts have players at every position ending up in Minnesota.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!
Click to expand...
Spin the bottle for a rookie who hopefully gets off the bench for 12 minutes a game and earns a 2nd contract.

Fun game.
 

TruthSeeker said:
Spin the bottle for a rookie who hopefully gets off the bench for 12 minutes a game and earns a 2nd contract.

Fun game.
Click to expand...
Or pick a shabazz Muhammed and then watch the Greek Freak go next.
 

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