NBA Draft 2016: Grades for every team

Minnesota Timberwolves

Pick: No. 5 Kris Dunn

Kris Dunn was one of my favorite prospects in this entire draft. In terms of looking at the path to success in this league for all of the top players in the 2016 NBA Draft class, the clearest and easiest path to a successful NBA career seemed to be Dunn’s, even if he doesn’t have the upside of players like a Brandon Ingram or Ben Simmons. Dunn’s value was made even clearer with how teams like the Bulls and Sixers were tripping over themselves trying to make trades to acquire him.

Instead, Dunn is going to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves after they took him with the No. 5 overall pick and this move looks more and more favorable for them the more time that passes. For one, you had to love in the moment that it put the Wolves in the driver’s seat of essentially the entire first round of the draft because of all the possible trades that were on the table for Dunn. Gaining that kind of control from one pick is always a good look.

What’s better, though, is the position that the Wolves are now in moving forward. Minnesota can play Dunn and Rubio together to start the year, but they now have the luxury to have a real trade chip in Ricky Rubio that they can afford to ship out in favor of letting Dunn take the reins if the rookie succeeds right away. It’s a great position to be in and, given that they had only one selection, what the Wolves did and the frenzy they caused with that singular pick was phenomenal.

Final Grade: A-

Next: Pelicans