Minnesota Timberwolves must hit with the No. 1 overall draft pick
The Minnesota Timberwolves must take advantage of picking first overall in the 2020 NBA Draft
The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ future got a little brighter after they were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft. This is a hopeful and exciting time for this franchise as they recognize the opportunity to draft a player who can make fans forget about seasons past and get this team moving in the right direction.
There are plenty of options to consider when taking into account the players available and considering the most pressing need on the team which is defense. General manager Scott Layden has to find the best fit for the roster and that player must be able to take the pressure off of Karl-Anthony Towns and help the Wolves get back into playoff contention in the Western Conference.
The roster is loaded with talented players like Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver, and Malik Beasley. While LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are intriguing prospects, neither one of those players will be able to come in and have an immediate impact, especially on the defensive end as the Wolves already have enough players that are capable of playing both backcourt positions.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
Even though the NBA is considered to be a guard-driven league, it makes more sense for them to go big with center James Wiseman out of the University of Memphis or Obi Toppin from Dayton. With Wiseman, they would be getting a solid rim protector and a defensive presence who will be able to assist Towns and help defend the paint.
Listed at 7-foot-1 and 240 pounds, he can be an imposing dominant player depending on his development as the Wolves can play him at the center position while Towns is better suited to play power forward.
The Wolves also own the 17th and 33rd picks. These picks may be later on in the draft, but they should view them as important considering just how bad the Wolves have been defensively. They were the third-worst in the NBA in points allowed, second-worst in rebounds allowed, third-worst in rebounds allowed, sixth-worst in opposing field goal percentage, and finished 20th overall in defensive rating.
The Wolves could possibly target guard/forward Josh Green from the University of Arizona with the17th selection. He has good size at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds and is athletic enough to develop into an elite defender if he puts in the work. Other prospects the Wolves could give a look are Washington’s Isaiah Stewart and Maryland’s Jalen Smith.
Both of these prospects have the ideal size to play either the 4 or the 5 and could improve the defense with their agility and length. Stewart may have to adjust to guarding opponents 1-on-1 due to him largely playing in a 2-3 zone while he was in college, but he is big and strong and has all the tools to be successful.
Smith possesses awesome leaping ability and can alter shots at the rim. It appears that the Wolves will continue to build around the nucleus of Towns, Russell, and whoever they decide to take with the first pick as both are under contract for the next three seasons. Both are still in the prime of their careers with Towns at 25 years and Russell only 24, their best basketball should be forthcoming.
Both are former all-stars who haven’t yet reached their full potential, and if they can fix or improve their individual defensive flaws, they could begin to see a difference in the win column for their respective team. Towns has to better utilize his size and natural gifts and must work on not becoming a liability in space when guarding quicker opponents.
Next. NBA Mock Draft: James Wiseman jumps to No. 1; Knicks surprise at No. 8. dark
Russell must get stronger and become more of a physical player and be more aggressive when facing the elite point guards who can score. The Wolves have a lot riding on their draft picks and hopefully, they will assess their needs and select accordingly instead of allowing outside sources to influence them to do otherwise.