Ranking the top 5 second-round picks from the 2022 NBA Draft

NEW YORK, NY, USA - JUNE 23: (L-R) Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler, Jaden Hardy, Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, AJ Griffen, Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivy, Paulo Banchero, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, TyTy Washington, Keegan Murray, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Malaki Branham, Mark Williams, Marjon Beauchamp, Nikola Jovic pose for a group onstage during the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

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MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 27: Josh Minott #20 of the Memphis Tigers celebrates against the Wichita State Shockers on February 27, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis won 81-57. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /

Ranking the top 5 second-round picks from the 2022 NBA Draft: Josh Minott, Minnesota Timberwolves

Shaedon Sharpe was a lottery pick for the Portland Trail Blazers, despite being a virtual unknown. Josh Minott also carries more than a whiff of mystery about him as he joins the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Minott was part of a Memphis Tigers roster that garnered plenty of discussion last season. Much of the talk centered around Penny Hardaway, Emoni Bates, and Jalen Duren. Minott became an afterthought.

He certainly became an afterthought in the Tigers’ lineup. Minott averaged only a hair more than 14 minutes per game, lost amid the rotation shuffle. That means he’s going to be raw entering the NBA and likely won’t contribute much, if anything at all, during his rookie season.

What Minott lacks in experience, he makes up for in intrigue. He’s tall for a small forward at 6’8 and has the versatility to play up or down a position in the lineup. There’s some sentiment that he may not even be done growing – he’s only 19 years old, after all.

In his limited playing time, Minott only averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. But he was once considered a potential lottery selection in the draft and the talent is still there.

Minott is purely an upside pick, which is a logical move to make halfway through the second round. It didn’t cost much to reel him in, but if he delivers, it could make the front office and the team look like geniuses.

New Timberwolves personnel honcho Tim Connelly has a great record of finding gems late in the draft – just ask Nikola Jokic. Minott could very well be another one if he develops as hoped.