The choice the Minnesota Timberwolves have with the No. 1 pick will be a difficult one. While both Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell are versatile players, none of the top three prospects in LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman are perfect fits for Minnesota.
Potential pre-draft workouts and combines could go a long way in separating the trio before the draft. For now, though, the early leader in the clubhouse appears to be Edwards.
In Tim Bontemps recent ESPN piece, he spoke with league insiders on a number of topics, including who the Wolves will take with the No. 1 pick.
“Most league insiders expect the Wolves to take Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, considered the best positional fit among the top three prospects (including National Basketball League guard LaMelo Ball and Memphis center James Wiseman).”
If the Wolves view Russell as the point guard of the future, Edwards emerging as the pick makes sense. As more of a combo guard or shooting guard, Edwards is a more natural fit alongside Russell.
That isn’t to say, though, that Ball couldn’t still be an option. Early in his time at Illawarra, he played an off-ball role alongside Aaron Brooks before an injury sidelined him for the season. Russell, meanwhile, has plenty of experience playing next to a ballhandler, both in Brooklyn and Golden State.
It’ll be an interesting decision for not just the Timberwolves in the draft but for multiple teams as they debate which prospect will sit atop their big board. For Minnesota, though, it’ll be a decision that could shape the future of their franchise.
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