With five games to go the Timberwolves are likely to finish with one of the 6-10 worst records in the NBA, which means there’s a strong chance they pick in the bottom half of the top 10 of the NBA Draft.
Here’s a nice look at the pick odds for every team currently in the lottery. Minnesota is currently eighth, which gives them a 72.4% chance to pick eighth and a 16.8% chance to drop to number nine.
A bunch of respectable sites unveiled post-NCAA Tournament mock drafts and two of them – Sports Illustrated and FanRag Sports – have the Wolves taking Florida State power forward Jonathan Isaac with the eighth pick. ESPN has Minnesota going with Arizona power foward, Lauri Markkanen.
Here’s a look at the 6-10 picks in the aforementioned mock drafts.
Sports Illustrated
- De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
- Dennis Smith, PG, N.C. State
- Jonathan Isaac, PF, Florida State
- Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
- Miles Bridges, SG/SF, Michigan State
- Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
- De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
- Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
- Frank Ntilikina, G, France
- Jonathan Isaac, PF, Florida State
- De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
- Frank Ntilikina, G, France
- Jonathan Isaac, PF, Florida State
- Dennis Smith, PG, N.C. State
- Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Bleacher Report says Isaac make the most sense for the Wolves.
“If Karl-Anthony Towns has flashed weakness, it’s on defense, where Isaac’s pick-and-roll coverage shines. At 6’10”, he’s disruptive at the rim but also quick enough to switch onto wings and guards around the perimeter.
Offensively, Isaac has proven he can be effective without needing isolation touches or volume shots. With a small 20.3 percent usage rate, he averaged 18.3 points per 40 minutes on 50.8 percent shooting as Florida State’s third option. That’s more-or-less the same role he’d play in Minnesota behind Towns and Andrew Wiggins.”
The Draft Express breakdown on Markkanen raves about his shooting ability as a 7-footer, but not so much on his defense.
The top of the draft is guard heavy while the top forwards on most big boards are Jayson Tatum, Markkanen, Isaac and Bridges.
The NBA Draft Lottery isn’t until May 16 and the actual draft isn’t until June 23.
