The Minnesota Timberwolves will enter the draft with the No. 17 and No. 31 picks on Wednesday and Thursday.
Last year, we saw Tim Connelly make waves by trading up to the No. 8 overall pick and selecting Rob Dillingham. This year could be filled with more surprises. However, if Minnesota stands firm at No. 17 overall, Danny Wolf would be a hell of a fit.
There is plenty of uncertainty about Naz Reid‘s and Julius Randle‘s long-term futures in Minnesota. They have player options to decide on this summer, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see both opt for free agency.
Reid could be priced out of Minnesota if teams start throwing funny money. However, few teams outside the Brooklyn Nets have cap space this summer.
Randle performed admirably in the postseason after doubts were raised with one playoff dud after another when he was with the New York Knicks.
The Wolves could enter next season with one or both playing elsewhere. Thus, there becomes a need at forward and behind Gobert at center.
Wolf isn’t a one-and-done prospect; he played two years at Yale and one at Michigan. At age 20, there are plenty of areas where he’ll be more polished entering the league than other prospects. However, he must fine-tune other areas, like shooting and ball-handling.
Wolf is a versatile player who can play power forward or center. After leading the Ivy League in rebounding and blocks two years ago, Wolf led the Big Ten in rebounding last year with 9.7 per game.
With the Wolverines, Wolf took on a point-center role for large stretches of the game. His willingness and ability to facilitate the offense and find the open guy are a big reason he’s projected to go in the middle of the first round.
Veteran Mike Conley and Dillingham could be the one-two punch at point guard in 2025. Having someone like Wolf who can bring it up and be at the controls with his size would allow Dillingham to occasionally navigate off-ball and be more of a catch-and-shoot option. Wolf’s ability to be used in various ways opens up a wealth of options for Chris Finch should he land in Minnesota.
On the other hand, we know that no prospect is perfect, and that’s the case with Wolf.
His numbers from 3-point range weren’t awful by any stretch. However, he’s a career 33% 3-point shooter, leaving a lot to be desired.
If you’re scratching for the optimism within it, consider that Wolf barely attempted more than one 3-pointer a game in his first year at Yale and shot at a 30% clip from distance. Last year at Michigan, he attempted a shade over three 3-pointers a game, and that percentage rested at 33%.
Getting Wolf in the right place and around the right coaches is crucial because that number could continue to rise, making him more of a threat from the perimeter as a shooter instead of just a facilitator.
Turnovers were another area of concern for Wolf.
It’s great that he’s a 6’11” big who can be a point-center, but 3.2 turnovers per game isn’t sustainable at the next level. Using Wolf to his strengths as a big that can handle the rock while also ensuring he improves in protecting it will be another project that should improve over time.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports put it best when assessing both the good and the not-so-good of Wolf as a ball handler.
Funky ball-handler with a knack for making highlight passes who showcases unique ball-handling and passing ability for a big man. Comfortable bringing the ball up or operating from the perimeter, especially running pick-and-roll or facing up and driving to the rim.
Funky ball-handler is a great descriptor when you watch Wolf’s tape. He’s super unorthodox in many ways, but it works for him and worked in the Big Ten.
Conversely, he’ll have to be more careful with the ball, or he won’t be long for heavy minutes in the NBA.
(Wolf) throws way too many careless passes, O’Connor notes. Sometimes he’ll post up, have single coverage, and then whip a pass straight into a defender’s grasp as if he’s looking through them. Same goes for perimeter-based actions when driving and kicking.
Given that Minnesota is in win-now mode and has uncertainty with Reid and Randle, getting a forward or center should be a priority in the draft. At pick No. 17, Wolf would offer good value instead of being a panic reach.
Wolf offers a plug-and-play option that could serve as a strong depth piece off the bench right away as a rookie if he’s in the right system. Over time, his value and play are expected to continue to rise.
Often, it’s better to address something before it becomes an issue. For Minnesota, preparing for the future and recognizing that Reid and Randle may not be part of it for the long haul makes someone like Wolf a more coveted selection.
Wolf on the Wolves would be a strong fit in more than one way.