2016 NBA Mock Draft: Drafting For Need

Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Super League attends a training session at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on March 16, 2016.Bender's name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months. / AFP / JACK GUEZ (Photo credit should read JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) /

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Mar 2, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn (3) celebrates against the Creighton Bluejays during the second half at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kris Dunn, Providence Friars

Position: Point Guard
Age: 22 (3/18/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4″, 205 pounds, 6’9″
Slash Line: .448/.372/.695
Season Averages: 33.0 MPG, 16.4 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.3 3PM

Ricky Rubio is a wonderful player when he doesn’t have to shoot. He’s a borderline elite facilitator who might be the best defensive player at the point guard position, but has a career field goal percentage of .368.

Kris Dunn has the potential to do everything Rubio does with superior athleticism and significantly greater consistency as a shooter.

On paper, Dunn is the perfect point guard. He has a tremendous physical profile at an athletic 6’4″ with a strong 205-pound frame and a massive 6’9″ wingspan, and provides tremendous contributions as both a facilitator and defensive player.

Dunn is also a solid 3-point shooter who can finish in traffic and cut down on his turnovers in 2015-16.

For the Timberwolves, Dunn can provide a similar impact to Rubio as a facilitator and defender while being far more reliable as a scorer. He can work the high screen game with Karl-Anthony Towns, run in transition with Zach LaVine, and help find Andrew Wiggins efficient looks at the basket.

Dunn has an aura to him that few players do, and Minnesota would be wise to capitalize on his availability at No. 5.

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