At 31, the Wolves like their position. They think there is a drop off in the draft soon after that, and teams may be clamoring for that pick. With the pause between day one and two of the draft, the Wolves could field calls on that pick and not have to make a split-second decision as they would have in the past. If they choose to keep it, it is the first pick of the second round, meaning they could sign that player to any kind of contract to help with their cap flexibility.
Depth is a precious commodity in the era of first and second aprons and the various roster-building restrictions that come with being a second-apron team, as the Wolves were this season.
To that end, Connelly said “you always need to have the cupboard stocked with talented players.” But he also added that that kind of talent the Wolves may find in this draft would likely come in behind the other young players on the roster when it comes to fighting for a rotation spot.
“If we stay at 17, stay at 31, there’s no expectation they’re going to make an instant impact,” Connelly said. “Because we think we have some young guys in the gym right now that can probably step ahead of them, but the most good players you have, the more good guys you have, the better you are, not just for in-season depth, but for flexibility for trades, whatever it may be.”
Here’s a look at the moves in the draft Connelly has made in his tenure with the Wolves:
2022: Traded back from No. 19 and ended up with No. 22 Walker Kessler (dealt to Utah in the Gobert trade) and No. 26 Wendell Moore (dealt to Detroit in the 2024 draft). Also acquired Minott in a draft-night trade while moving around during the second-round.