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Minnesota Timberwolves: Draft Grades And Takeaways

By Aaron Mah

Jun 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves number one overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones pose with their jerseys at Mayo Clinic Square. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves number one overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones pose with their jerseys at Mayo Clinic Square. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the 2015 NBA Draft neared, the Minnesota Timberwolves remained steadfast to retain the worst-kept secret around the association.

Although you appreciate the due diligence the organization displayed in bringing Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell, and Emmanuel Mudiay to the Twin Cities to interview the quartet in a private setting, when it was all said and done, the Timberwolves did what everyone expected when they selected Towns — the 7’0″ long-armed big man from Kentucky — with the franchise’s first ever No. 1 overall selection.

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Specifically, as the calendar year turned to the month of June, Towns gradually became the consensus top overall prospect in the big man-laden draft — naturally partitioning himself to his own distinctive tier.

Early on, there were legitimate rumblings regarding the Timberwolves self-proclaimed C.O.P.’s (coach, part owner, and president of basketball operations), Flip Saunders’, infatuation with Okafor — a traditional back-to-the-basket big and the most polished offensive center prospect in over a decade.

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But it wasn’t long until KAT’s limitless upside won over the hearts of the Minnesota brass. Towns has the potential to become an upper-echelon player and perennial All-Star in the NBA. Not only does he possess the ideal size and measurables to serve as the prototypical five, the Metuchen, NJ-native also moves incredibly well for a man of his stature and has terrific shot-blocking instincts.

Offensively, he fits with the way the league is currently heading as he’s versatile enough to stretch the defense out to the three-point line while encompassing the athleticism, length, and touch to score with relatively ease on the interior.

Towns will make a tangible impact immediately. He might struggle a bit on the defensive end initially — especially in his rotational assignments and deciphering the right pick-and-roll coverage — but he should present a favorable mismatch right from the outset.

In particular, he will lure the opposing defensive anchor out of the painted area with his ability to drain long range bombs, thereby giving Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad the spacing needed to wreak havoc on the block. Alternatively, if the opposition adjusts and downsizes, Towns has the size, touch, and just enough low-post acumen to punish smaller defenders — who can defend him out to the three-point line — in the trenches.

Will there be growing pains? Most definitely.

Knowing Flip’s track record as a coach, he will assuredly be misused and miscast as a stretch-4 alongside Nikola Pekovic and Gorgui Dieng during the early stages of the 2015-16 NBA season. In addition, Saunders has a vast history of alienating the three-point shot from his bigs’ offensive repertoire (see: Anthony Bennett).

If Saunders persists in his vision to play Towns at the power forward position and limit him to playing 18 feet and in, his strengths as a player may be ameliorated early on next year.

Going forward, however, as Towns adapts to anchoring an NBA-style defense, he should evolve into a plus defender given his physical tools. Moreover, once he finds his footing as an inside-out five offensively — at worst — KAT should become a top-10 player in the association and one of the best two-way bigs in the game.

For all intents and purposes, he will also have the luxury of serving as the personal protégé of Kevin Garnett — one of the forefathers of the new-aged stretch big; at least for next season.

Grade: A+

If picking up the best prospect in the 2015 NBA Draft wasn’t enough, the Timberwolves also managed to deploy their dream scenario in trading up to nab Apple Valley’s own, and the reigning 2015 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Tyus Jones.

They get bonus points, as well, for obtaining Jones without giving up the rights to Nemanja Bjelica (more on him later). The two early-second round draft picks they did relent, on the other hand, would have most likely resulted in a couple of draft-and-stash selections.

In acquiring Jones, the Wolves will effectively receive the services of a duo-threat floor general capable of running a pick-and-roll heavy NBA-style offense. In fact, he was rated as the fourth most efficient pick-and-roll negotiator in college basketball last season, per DraftExpress; adept at threading the needle to his diving (or flaring) big with a pocket pass or making the defense pay when they go under with a pull-up three.

More importantly, Minnesota gets their insurance policy for the often-injured Ricky Rubio. It also affectionately puts an end to the Zach LaVine point guard experiment — as with their full complement of players, the young bounce brother will play exclusively at the 2 next season.

His upside may be limited — due in large to his banal physical stature and limits as an athlete — but his skill-set, poise, and propensity to rise to the occasion should make Jones a highly-efficacious back-up point guard and enable the 6’1″ jitterbug to enjoy a long, fruitful NBA career.

Grade: A

In related news, multiple sources have confirmed the Wolves are nearing a deal to bring the newly-crowned Euroleague MVP, Nemanja Bjelica, across the Atlantic Ocean and make him the newest member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hopefully with Bjelica on the roster next season, he will give the Wolves what Bennett and Adreian Payne were advertised to bring as the team’s resident stretch-4. Nemanja has improved his outside stroke immensely over the last several seasons and has legitimate point guard-like playmaking skills at 6’10”.

He may have some troubles adapting to the pace of the NBA and hinder the team initially on the defensive end, but hopefully, his accomplished offensive acumen can force Saunders to keep Towns at the center position for the majority of their slated games next year.

Meanwhile, on a lighter note, every year the draft delivers a handful of gelastic, mirthful — bordering on farcical — moments. The following caught my scouring eyes:

5 Things That Caught My Eye 

  1. KAT is wise beyond his years in terms of interacting with the media; very personable and eloquent at articulating his thoughts. Other preliminary members of the All-Media rookie team include Myles Turner and Justise Winslow — both of whom are incredibly well-spoken considering their age — as well as Cameron Payne (already referring to himself in third person) and Kelly Oubre (who may have too much swag to fail).
  2. Speaking of Oubre, he stole the draft’s fashion component with his red velvet suit, and most notably, his Rick Flair-esque Christian Louboutin spiked shoes. In his post-draft interview, he also boasted, and I quote, “Whoever gets me is getting a jewel, you know what I mean?” Immediately thereafter, in a half-hearted attempt to showcase the former-Kansas Jayhawk’s shoes, they conversely zoomed-in on Kelly’s corporeal “jewels.” Live television people; you can’t make this stuff up.
  3. If you’re having sleeping problems, put away the Nyquil and melatonin; just record Phil Jackson‘s interview late in the first round on ESPN’s broadcast and put it on loop. You’ll be knocked out in five minutes, guaranteed.
  4. Bobby Portis looks like a mix between an oversized Rodrigue Beaubois and Plaxico Burress.
  5. Adam Silver was on point the whole night — from embracing the draftees with an added urban touch to correctly pronouncing Nikola Milutinov’s name. A far cry from the stuttering heel — also known as David Stern. He is also surprisingly tall; looking eye-to-eye with the 6’3″.5 (in socks) D’Angelo Russell.

From here, on we go to the NBA Summer League. The Timberwolves will square off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Jul. 10, in a matchup featuring the No. 1 (KAT) and No. 2 (Russell) picks of the NBA Draft.

Next: Why Mario Hezonja Is The 3rd Best Prospect In The NBA Draft

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