Minnesota Timberwolves: Making the case for Obi Toppin at No. 1

Obi Toppin might be the perfect fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves

As the 2020 NBA Draft inches closer and closer, rumors begin to circulate on who each team in the lottery will prefer. This past week, it was reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves are highly interested in Dayton forward Obi Toppin with their top pick. The Wolves currently hold the first overall pick and with Toppin projected to go anywhere from 4-9, teams speculate Minnesota would be interested in trading down.

But could the Wolves legitimately consider keeping the first pick and using it on Toppin? Personally, I wouldn’t be shocked by this move at all.

There’s no doubt the talent at the top end of this draft has a lot of upside with LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman leading the way. I personally think the best overall talent is Wiseman, a 7-foot-1 big man that contains all the attributes to be a dominant force in the NBA.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

But if we’re talking about perfect fits for the Timberwolves, I don’t really think any of these three fits with the way the team is built more than Obi does.

With D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns as the cornerstones of the franchise, players like Ball and Wiseman are too eerily similar to provide a jolt for the Wolves. Now of course I think starting Wiseman and KAT side by side could be absolutely dominant, but since trading Andrew Wiggins as part of the Russell deal last year, the Wolves lack an athletic wing.

Insert Toppin into the lineup, you now have a score first and long-range sniper in Russell, an athletic two-way wing in Josh Okogie, an athletic wing who can stretch the floor in Toppin, an all-around star in Towns, and the power forward can be filled with either defensive-minded youngsters Naz Reid or Omari Spellman. Honestly, I think that is truly a core to be excited about in Minnesota and an opportunity too good to pass up.

Although taking Obi Toppin first overall might be the last resort, the Timberwolves will definitely shop around to move a little further back into the draft and take him a few picks later if that’s truly what they want to do. The Charlotte Hornets currently hold the third pick and are extremely high on trying to move up to secure James Wiseman. A deal for the T-Wolves to fall back to three can definitely be something to think about.

Next. Philadelphia 76ers: 4 trades Daryl Morey could make to make a splash. dark

A lot of different factors can shake up this year’s draft, and with no clear cut favorite to go first overall as of right now, it will be interesting to see what unfolds in the next few weeks. Toppin is definitely not the biggest name headlining this year’s draft but is one that I think will provide longevity in the league and can be a supporting piece for a winning team.

Home/Minnesota Timberwolves