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Minnesota Timberwolves: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks

By Corey Rausch

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with Zach LaVine #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring the go ahead basket against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of the basketball game at Staples Center January 19 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Timberwolves defeated the Clippers, 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with Zach LaVine #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring the go ahead basket against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of the basketball game at Staples Center January 19 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Timberwolves defeated the Clippers, 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA draft (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA draft (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

2. Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine is a really solid player. He is a borderline All-Star, albeit focused on one side of the ball. This year for the Chicago Bulls he averaged 25.5 points per game. That is ahead of LeBron James, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum to name a few. He is doing so efficiently, sporting shooting splits of .450/.380/.802. He is 27th in rebounding for guards and 11th in steals among guards as well.

LaVine spent three seasons in Minnesota after being drafted 13th overall in the same draft that ultimately netted the Timberwolves Andrew Wiggins. In his one season under Tom Thibodeau, he would play 37.2 minutes per game before tearing his ACL but he showed signs of what he would become today.

This led to him getting dealt as part of the Jimmy Butler trade and after a year of mostly recovery stunting his stats, he has grown into an effective number one option on a team (admittedly not one winning a lot of games).

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It would not be shocking to see LaVine on the move soon. He is on the books for $19.5 million each of the next two seasons and is ready to contribute to a winning team now. Should the Brooklyn Nets strike out on glitzier options he is a solid backup plan for the team.

Finally, given that only one All-Star went after him this pick is ultimately mostly unassailable. Just not as much so as the number one spot on this list.

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