Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: 3 Players Minnesota Timberwolves Should Target At No. 5

By Brandon Carney

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
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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jamal Murray (23) shoots the ball against Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jamal Murray (23) shoots the ball against Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Kentucky

Buddy Hield was the best scorer in college basketball last season, but Jamal Murray was not far behind. The Kentucky guard averaged 20 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.

Murray is the type of player who prefers to have the ball in his hands and create his own shot. A decidedly less well-rounded player than Buddy Hield, Murray would still be the Timberwolves’ best option should they decide not to go with a bona fide point guard like Kris Dunn.

And being worse than Hield is far from a bad thing considering the rest of the draft class minus Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram probably fall into that category. It just means Murray is probably due for more of an adjustment in the pros than Hield is.

Although Murray likes creating his own shot, he’s capable of being an effective spot-up shooter as well. According to DraftExpress, Murray is great at moving off the ball and is able to set his feet, catch, and shoot in one smooth motion.

That’s good because if he winds up in Minnesota on draft night, he’s going to be conceding a lot of touches to Towns, Wiggins and LaVine. But assuming he can adjust to not being the go-to guy, he’ll be set up for success in the same way Hield is.

He can shoot, which will open up the floor and allow everyone else to shoot.

More hoops habit: NBA Draft: Best Player Ever Selected in all 60 Spots

Assuming Hield is gone, Kris Dunn would probably be the next best option for Minnesota. But if Dunn is either or gone or the Timberwolves simply decide they’d rather have a shooting guard than point guard, Jamal Murray is not a bad consolation prize.

Home/Minnesota Timberwolves