While the first couple major offseason dominoes have toppled — with Desmond Bane getting traded to Orlando and Kevin Durant going to Houston — another major tipping point takes place Wednesday with the first round of the NBA Draft.
This specific draft holds two of Minnesota’s most tradeable assets, the No. 17 and No. 31 overall picks. The 17th pick will be used Wednesday, while No. 31 is the selection that kicks off Thursday’s second-round proceedings.
Minnesota could trade either or both in an effort to upgrade the present roster as it aims to take the final steps of the team’s championship chase. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch hasn’t overly leaned on rookies to contribute during his time in Minnesota, and it seems likely that will hold true with any selections made this week.
If the Wolves are just a move away from climbing the final rung in the NBA ladder — they have lost in the Western Conference finals the past two seasons — such a move could be the tipping point in the organization parading through Minneapolis at this time next year.
But there are no guarantees there, and such transactions aren’t always as widely available as fans would hope.
Plus, youthful depth now does equal optionality later. As much as fans may have wanted to see more of Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham at points in Minnesota’s most recent season, their presence allows Minnesota to better absorb the likely departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker during next week’s free agency period.
The more a team can continue to stock the cupboard with young, talented players on cheap deals, the wider its window of sustained success will grow.
For an organization that continues to preach that the more times you kick at the door, the more likely it is to eventually crash down, drafting at least one, if not two, potential future contributors this week is a viable option, even as many clamor for more instant ammunition in the current Western Conference arms race.
Maybe there is a player in this year’s draft class that can make a timely contribution next season, or perhaps be a major cog in the Wolves’ machine for years to come.
Here are a few names for Minnesota to potentially nab over the next couple few days:
Egor Demin, point guard, BYU
The skinny: One of the more polarizing prospects in this draft, Demin is a home-run swing for a franchise that’s stable and deep enough to potentially take one in the middle of the first round.
Demin comes in at north of 6-foot-8 and is not just a legitimate point guard, but the clear-cut best passer in the draft. He has the type of craft and court vision that isn’t present in every draft class. It’s an elite skill, something NBA teams often covet in prospects.
What positions he can defend, how well he can shoot it from beyond the arc and whether or not he’s athletic enough to truly ascend high up the NBA ranks are all fair questions, but given his size and the way he processes the game — Demin ran one of the most electric offenses in college basketball last season at BYU — the 19 year old can redefine the way a team plays offense. And perhaps that’s something Minnesota could use down the road.
Cedric Coward, wing, Washington State
The skinny: The sharpshooter played just six games last season at Washington State and opened his career playing Division-III hoops before finding his way to Eastern Washington.
Coward is long, with a 6-5 frame and stunning 7-2 wingspan, and can shoot the ball effortlessly and efficiently. He knocked down north of 38% of his 3-point attempts in each of his last three collegiate seasons.
Coward knows how to play off the ball and can get to his spots and find others when playing off the catch, and his length helps make him a fairly strong defender. He simply looked bigger than everyone else at his position in his minimal playing time last season, and overwhelmed with his size and reach.
Coward, who turned down the chance to transfer to Duke to instead enter the draft, fits the mold of what looks like on of those true No. 2 wings that championship teams are sporting in recent years. And you might be able to grab soon-to-be 22 year old a few picks outside of the lottery.
Nique Clifford, wing, Colorado State
The skinny: There may not be some all-star top end with Clifford, but that’s the case for most guys in the middle of the first round. And he’s a 23-year-old wing who can play off the ball or make plays with it. And while this isn’t an exact comparison, the value of having an off guard like Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard, who can relieve pressure on the star player by creating and getting his own bucket when you need it, has clear value on a team that starts Anthony Edwards.
Clifford shot 38% from deep and was an efficient scorer on high-volume shooting with more than four assists per game last season with a 6-foot-5 frame.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton
The skinny: A ready-made, drop-coverage center who can patrol the paint and quarterback a defense from the rim. Kalkbrenner elevated Creighton teams that should’ve been average given the personnel to solid teams that could win because of his size and shot blocking acumen.
Offensively, Kalkbrenner has good hands, soft touch and the potential to be more of an outside shooting threat than was displayed in college. You don’t have to squint to see a Brook Lopez comparison here.
In the short term, Kalkbrenner could be stashed as Rudy Gobert insurance, while also serving as a potential succession plan as Minnesota’s center spot.
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