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5 Offseason Ideas To Improve The Minnesota Timberwolves

By Ryan Blackburn

Apr 13, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes up for a layup in the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes up for a layup in the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Croatian player Dragen Bender (L) fights for the ball against Hapoel Jerusalem’s US player Josh Duncan during a Winner League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem at the Pais Arena in Jerusalem on March 21, 2016.Dragan Bender’s name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender, currently playing for Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months./ AFP / THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Croatian player Dragen Bender (L) fights for the ball against Hapoel Jerusalem’s US player Josh Duncan during a Winner League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem at the Pais Arena in Jerusalem on March 21, 2016.Dragan Bender’s name is not yet well known beyond hardcore basketball fans, but that may soon change. Bender, currently playing for Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, is expected to be highly sought after by US professional basketball teams in the coming months./ AFP / THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) /

Timberwolves move up to select Dragan Bender

Boston Celtics trade: 3rd overall, 23rd overall
Minnesota Timberwolves trade: 5th overall, Zach LaVine

Yes, Zach LaVine has been traded in this move, but the opportunity to move up and grab a player to complement Karl-Anthony Towns for years to come is too good to pass up. I’m talking about Dragan Bender.

Bender is a slender power forward, but at 7’1″ he towers over most at his position. His jump shot shows the potential to be game changing, and he has the ball handling skills to attack off the dribble as well.

The Timberwolves need to not only match the timeline of their core, but also complement it with the proper players. Towns is versatile enough to beat the other team inside and outside, but Wiggins has yet to develop a jump shot.

The addition of Bender would allow the Wolves to invert their offense and put the big men outside, drawing away the opposition’s rim protectors. Wiggins would be given more space to operate, and giving him more space would result in more success offensively.

The team also adds the 23rd overall selection. This brings the amount of total draft picks to two, and for a developing roster, the 23rd pick could turn into a quality rotation player.

Giving up LaVine to select Bender is a tough pill to swallow, but while Rubio and Wiggins likely make up the team’s starting backcourt, the frontcourt is very questionable outside of Towns.

Bender gels with Rubio, Wiggins and Towns much better than LaVine, and he has legitimate star potential.

Next: Staying Put

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