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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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA draft (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

8. Derrick Williams

As hard as it is to believe there was a legitimate debate between Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams at the top of this draft. That is how good Williams looked at Arizona. He looked like a future multi-time All-Star and the Timberwolves had to feel like winners with the second pick in the NBA draft, getting the treat of selecting whichever player the Cleveland Cavaliers did not select.

Williams would play just over two seasons in Minnesota and would average just 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game during that time frame. After 11 games in his third season, he was shipped to the Sacramento Kings in a straight-up swap for Luc Mbah a Moute.

Those years in Minnesota would be his best seasons and he would never be a double-figure scorer again. The efficiency was just never there for a guy who looked like a sure thing. To make the Timberwolves fans slightly happier, most of the rest of this draft was even more bizarre than what he ended up being.

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Sure it is possible to make the easy case for Kemba Walker (ninth pick), Klay Thompson (11th pick), Kawhi Leonard (15th) or Nikola Vucevic (16th). Heck, even the cases for the Morris twins and Tristan Thompson have aged better than Derrick Williams’s game. This is the unfortunate reality of tanking. Even guys who at the time look like sure-fire future stars bust sometimes.

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