The new President of Basketball Operations of Minnesota Timberwolves, Tim Connelly, was certainly up for his first-ever NBA Draft with his new side and made some big signings to overhaul the club. Connelly made four deals and selected four fascinating players in the draft on Thursday night, including Walker Kessler, Wendell Moore, Josh Minott, and Matteo Spagnolo.
Even though the squad had a hectic night, the result was a continual infusion of young, talented players onto the roster. The right itself resembled a thrilling roller coaster ride with ups and downs and exciting twists and turns. The Minnesota Timberwolves, though, ultimately arrived where we anticipated they would.
Here, we would take a comprehensive look at the new signings and to what extent they can be compared to their alternatives.
Pick 22: Walker Kessler (Auburn/Centre)
Player Comp: Myles Turner
Kessler switched to Auburn and went on to become the finest rim protector in the nation and won SEC Defensive Player of the Year after seeing action for just 8.8 minutes per game as a freshman at North Carolina. The 7-foot-1 center, who at times reminded me of Myles Turner, recorded 155 blocks, the most in the conference since Anthony Davis in 2012. Next season’s defensive rotations should be more flexible because of Kessler’s superior drop coverage skills.
Pick 26: Wendell Moore (Duke/Forward)
Player Comp: Bruce Brown
Moore became a formidable defender and good shot creator throughout his three years at Duke, despite his struggles to score frequently. The 6-foot-5 forward showed many of the same attributes that Bruce Brown brings to the game and, because of his agility, physicality, and vision, should have an impact off the bench. Last year, Moore made significant progress in his outside shooting, and he will need to keep honing it if he wants to see action.
Pick 45: Josh Minott (Memphis/F)
Player Comp: Brandon Clarke
It was obvious why NBA teams would be interested in Minott despite the fact that he only played 14.6 minutes a game as a freshman at Memphis. The Florida native is 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and possesses exceptional quickness and jumping abilities. When he attacked the offensive boards and finished near the rim with even more length, he displayed flashes of Brandon Clarke. Minott has the potential to improve as a defender even though he isn’t one yet.
Pick 50: Matteo Spagnolo (Italy/G)
Player Comp: Rudy Fernandez
With the Timberwolves’ final pick in the second round, Connelly picked 6’6 shooting guard Matteo Spagnolo. The Italian youngster might eventually develop into a valuable rotation player with a scoring punch akin to former Trail Blazers and Nuggets guard Rudy Fernandez, even if it is anticipated that he will play at least one more season in Serie A. Although Spagnolo’s recent season’s 44.1 percent from beyond the arc was excellent, he still needs to improve as a ball-handler, decision-maker, and defender.
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