We won’t know if the Minnesota Timberwolves will still own the seventh overall selection until NBA Draft coverage begins (or tips-off) Thursday night.
But there is one thing hoops fans can be sure of on NBA Draft day: there will be rumors aplenty.
Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau was tight-lipped at a press conference Wednesday. “Thibs,” as he is wont to do, kept things very close to the vest, and did not reveal much detail in any draft day plans.
“We’re not going to get into specific players,” said the head coach. “We’re always looking to improve our club, if we feel there is somebody we can add and improve in certain areas.”
During last year’s draft, former Thibodeau player Jimmy Butler arose as a possible trade target for the Wolves. Those talks fizzled, and nothing came of it.
However, his name has come up again in 2017 as a possible suitor for Minnesota.
It sounds crazy to say about a team that hasn’t sniffed the post-season since 2004, but the Timberwolves have a near-embarrassment of riches when it comes to tradable assets. Aside from Karl Anthony Towns and possibly Andrew Wiggins, nobody on the roster is untouchable. Ricky Rubio, Zach Lavine, Gorgui Dieng, Kris Dunn, even the seventh pick in Thursday night’s draft could be available for the right return.
Whether they get an offer they can’t refuse, or propose one to an opposing team, remains to be seen.
“There’s been a lot of talk about trading the pick, so we know there’s great value in it,” Thibodeau said. “There’s a lot of interest in our pick because of the depth of this draft this year. And you can tell usually by the calls that you’re getting.”
Assuming the Wolves stand pat at No. 7, I’ve broken down a list of potential suitors that could be members of the franchise before the night is done.
- “He’s way out of our league” category: Markelle Fultz (consensus 2017 No. 1 pick) – Washington, Lonzo Ball – UCLA
- “Unlikely to be there” category: Josh Jackson – Kansas, Jayson Tatum – Duke, De’Aaron Fox – Kentucky, Jonathan Issaac – Florida State
- “In our ballpark” category: Lauri Markkanen – Arizona, Dennis Smith Jr. – N.C. State, Malik Monk – Kentucky
- “That’s a reach” category: Zach Collins – Gonzaga, Frank Ntilikina – France.
Basketball fans will have to monitor Twitter to keep up with all the latest league-rumblings and rumors until ESPN’s coverage begins at 6PM central time Thursday night.
