Wolves Draft Thread
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2023 1:26 pm
OK. I know our only pick this year is #53. Hard to get excited about the draft when that’s all we’ve got. But we can’t just sit on the sidelines and watch, can we? Maybe we can, but I’m going to step up and start a Timberwolves draft thread for all of us to share our ideas on who the Wolves should target at #53, along with ideas on possible trades to move up and who we should target if we do.
I’m going to start by listing who I’d target at 53. Here’s my list of prospects I’d take at 53 in order of preference among those expected to be available in the late 2nd round:
1. Jazian Gortman — He’s an Overtime Elite player so was playing against professionals at 20 years old. He’s the one guy expected to be available in the late second round who excites me. He’s a super quick and athletic player with a great handle. He’s also a PG, which is a position of need for the Wolves even if TC prefers to dismiss the notion of positional need. If you haven’t watched video of Jazian, you should. He has the potential to be a dynamic NBA PG. He has terrific size for the position with a 6’10 wing span. His shooting needs work, but his 45.3% FG shooting are 33% 3-point shooting are respectable, especially wen you consider his nearly 81% free-throw shooting. He averaged 4.8 rebounds and an impressive 2.5 steals per game. I’m surprised that he’s so low in all the mock drafts. I’ve never seen him mocked higher than 53 and some mocks don’t even have him being drafted. Given his obvious talent and stats it makes me wonder whether there’s a character issue we’re not aware of. But based on what I know and what I’ve seen, I’d grab him at 53 and not look back.
2. Isaiah Wong — Wong is a 22 year old college senior, so his upside might not be a great as some other like Gortman. But he’s good PG prospect in my view. I like his quickness and handle. He has a decent 6’6.75 wingspan for a PG and a very nice vertical (32.5 no-step, 37 max). He put up nice numbers his last season with 16.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals. His shooting numbers were particularly impressive - 44.5% from the field and 38.4 from behind the arc on 4.3 attempts per game. He also go to the line a pretty impressive 5 times per game and hit 84.5% of his foul shots. Interestingly, he has a broad mock draft range from 38 to 50. So I suspect he won’t be available at #53. But if he falls into the late 40s, then it shouldn’t be too hard to trade up with some cash and possibly a future 2nd.
3. Ricky Council IV — I’m not crazy about him, but at 53 beggars can’t be choosers. He’s physically gifted, but so far his gifts haven’t translated into impressive production at the college level. As a Junior he averaged 16 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals. He hit 43.3% of his field goals and only 27% of his threes. His one impressive stat is his 6.1 trips to the line where he shot 79.4%. If Gortman and Wong are off the board, Ricky would be my third choice.
4. Julian Phillips — He’s a physically gifted college freshman. His numbers weren’t impressive but he has great length and athleticism as a wing. He has a 6’11.5 wingspan and a tremendous vertical of 36” standing and 43” max. He didn’t shoot well from the field, but he hit 82% of his free throws. He’s reputed to have a lot of dog in him.
If we can’t get one of these guys or a prospect like Sasser who unexpectedly falls, then I’d be inclined to trade pick 53 for a future 2nd and just look for good undrafted free agents.
I’m going to start by listing who I’d target at 53. Here’s my list of prospects I’d take at 53 in order of preference among those expected to be available in the late 2nd round:
1. Jazian Gortman — He’s an Overtime Elite player so was playing against professionals at 20 years old. He’s the one guy expected to be available in the late second round who excites me. He’s a super quick and athletic player with a great handle. He’s also a PG, which is a position of need for the Wolves even if TC prefers to dismiss the notion of positional need. If you haven’t watched video of Jazian, you should. He has the potential to be a dynamic NBA PG. He has terrific size for the position with a 6’10 wing span. His shooting needs work, but his 45.3% FG shooting are 33% 3-point shooting are respectable, especially wen you consider his nearly 81% free-throw shooting. He averaged 4.8 rebounds and an impressive 2.5 steals per game. I’m surprised that he’s so low in all the mock drafts. I’ve never seen him mocked higher than 53 and some mocks don’t even have him being drafted. Given his obvious talent and stats it makes me wonder whether there’s a character issue we’re not aware of. But based on what I know and what I’ve seen, I’d grab him at 53 and not look back.
2. Isaiah Wong — Wong is a 22 year old college senior, so his upside might not be a great as some other like Gortman. But he’s good PG prospect in my view. I like his quickness and handle. He has a decent 6’6.75 wingspan for a PG and a very nice vertical (32.5 no-step, 37 max). He put up nice numbers his last season with 16.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals. His shooting numbers were particularly impressive - 44.5% from the field and 38.4 from behind the arc on 4.3 attempts per game. He also go to the line a pretty impressive 5 times per game and hit 84.5% of his foul shots. Interestingly, he has a broad mock draft range from 38 to 50. So I suspect he won’t be available at #53. But if he falls into the late 40s, then it shouldn’t be too hard to trade up with some cash and possibly a future 2nd.
3. Ricky Council IV — I’m not crazy about him, but at 53 beggars can’t be choosers. He’s physically gifted, but so far his gifts haven’t translated into impressive production at the college level. As a Junior he averaged 16 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals. He hit 43.3% of his field goals and only 27% of his threes. His one impressive stat is his 6.1 trips to the line where he shot 79.4%. If Gortman and Wong are off the board, Ricky would be my third choice.
4. Julian Phillips — He’s a physically gifted college freshman. His numbers weren’t impressive but he has great length and athleticism as a wing. He has a 6’11.5 wingspan and a tremendous vertical of 36” standing and 43” max. He didn’t shoot well from the field, but he hit 82% of his free throws. He’s reputed to have a lot of dog in him.
If we can’t get one of these guys or a prospect like Sasser who unexpectedly falls, then I’d be inclined to trade pick 53 for a future 2nd and just look for good undrafted free agents.