NBA Draft 2013: Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Preview

This post was contributed to FanSided.com by Michael McDonald of FanSided’s very own Minnesota Timberwolves blog, Dunking With Wolves. For more Timberwolves news and rumors, be sure to check out DunkingWithWolves.com.

After finally extricating his organization from the David Kahn, Wolves owner Glen Taylor went and got all comfortable with the retread hire of Flip Saunders. This draft will be the first substantive move Flip will make in his second time around and he seems to be spoiling for a splash.

Not that it’s even necessary. The Wolves needs are clear: a shooting guard who can shoot. Help should be available when the Wolves pick at #9. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and C.J. McCollum could be in play and both would fit nicely beside starting point guard Ricky Rubio.

Flip has taken every opportunity to talk up Derrick Williams and popular speculation is he is willing to move him and the #9 (maybe even more) for the opportunity to draft Victor Oladipo. The Oladipo-Dwyane Wade comparisons seem a bit overdone, but the stats are more than intriguing — particularly getting to the rim 8 times per 40 minutes.

If attempts to move up are thwarted, all is not lost. McCollum has wowed in interviews, his playmaking and shooting would be a plus, though his lack of size is a concern. But the pick gaining the most steam seems to be KCP, he carried a huge usage rate with a paltry supporting cast at Georgia. Many locals peg him as a Wesley Johnson redux, but his youth alone should dispel concerns.

Bottom line: picking any solid rotation wing will be fine.