Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 reasons why Justin Patton was a good pick

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Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Justin Patton (Creighton) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number sixteen overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Minnesota Timberwolves were a big winner on 2017 NBA Draft night. Their pick was later than expected, but ended up being a great choice taking Justin Patton.

The 2017 NBA Draft was a wild night for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They started the night off with a big move that shook up the NBA, trading the seventh overall pick, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn to the Chicago Bulls. In return, they received Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick, which ultimately ended up being Justin Patton.

Justin Patton is a 20-year-old center out of Creighton with a lot of potential. He fills a large void on the Timberwolves’ bench. The Wolves have struggled to maintain a deep frontcourt because of Nikola Pekovic‘s injury problems. Now with Pekovic officially out of the picture, the Wolves are in a good place with their frontcourt outlook.

Patton is NBA-ready. Not NBA ready in the sense that he is going to win Rookie of the Year or be a starter. He is NBA-ready in the sense that the things he does well will translate to the NBA. This will allow him to provide relief to Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng. He will give the Wolves a big athletic presence off the bench.

At only 20 years old, his ceiling is very high. Not only was he a good pick for the Timberwolves, but the Wolves are also a great fit for him. He will get minutes right away while not being asked to do too much as a rookie. Here’s a look at why Patton was such a great pick for Minnesota.

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