Welcome to the Wolfpack, @ZachLaVine! #WolvesDraft pic.twitter.com/7JYtwbgIOg
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 27, 2014
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected UCLA guard Zach LaVine with the 13th pick in Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
LaVine wasn’t a starter, during his freshman year with the Bruins, but he did play extended minutes in all 37 games. He averaged 9.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
At 19, LaVine spent just one year at UCLA, he is raw, but is incredibly athletic.
LaVine it is. Wolves have their wing man.
— Phil (@PhilErvin) June 27, 2014
LaVine stands 6-foot-4, his wing span stretches more than 6-feet, 8-inches.
The Pioneer Press reports LaVine was named the state of Washington’s player of the year at Bothell High School. He averaged 28.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
“He has to improve on his finishing,” said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas on the draft telecast. “But you can’t teach the athleticism that he’s got in the NBA.”
According to the blog Canius Hoopus, LaVine is a major long-term project.
He has impressive physical tools, but clearly has not yet learned to use them effectively on the basketball court. When and whether he will ever do so is the question.
The pick really wasn’t a surprise, the Wolves had been rumored to have promised LaVine they would select him if he was available at 13.
https://twitter.com/SeanFarnham/status/482328397561872384
It’s the second consecutive year the Wolves have selected a UCLA player with a lottery pick. Last year they selected Shabazz Muhammed with their first of two first round picks.
Here are a few highlights of the Wolves first-round pick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myt7Hg8s4uw
LaVine may not be as excited to be with the Timberwolves as they were to pick him. This was his reaction to being drafted by the Wolves.
“@MySportsLegion: Did Zach LaVine say "f*** me" after being drafted by the Wolves? https://t.co/gHhGTbYBNU”could've swore he said that too
— O (@almiightyo) June 27, 2014
See Flip is saying he would be surprised if LaVine swore after being picked. What is Flip going to say? Has to say kid is happy.
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) June 27, 2014
Zach Lavine on the expletive controversy: "I can't be more happy. … I might have uttered something completely wrong, but …"
— RandBall (@RandBall) June 27, 2014
- The Wolves selected Michigan’s Glenn Robinson III with their second round pick. Robinson shot 52 percent from the field and averaged 12 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, in two seasons with the Wolverines.
Wolves take Glenn Robinson III with first second-round pick, 40th overall. Looks like they'll sell the 44th to Brooklyn, per @ESPNAndyKatz
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) June 27, 2014
