NBA Draft Lottery 2017: Who each team should take with the No. 1 pick
By John Buhler
Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Jackson, small forward, Kansas Jayhawks (5.3 percent)
The Minnesota Timberwolves won the coin-flip tiebreaker over the New York Knicks for having the sixth-best odds to garner the No. 1 overall pick. While head coach Tom Thibodeau definitely needs help creating a defensive-minded basketball culture in the Twin Cities, his team doesn’t need the No. 1 pick more than most.
Outside of last year’s No. 5 overall pick in point guard Kris Dunn, who remains a work in progress, the Timberwolves have hit with young talent on their roster. Center Karl-Anthony Towns has superstar potential. Andrew Wiggins projects as an All-Star out on the wing. Even the injured Zach LaVine offers great intrigue with his athletic ability.
Since Minnesota went point guard at No. 5 last year, there is really no reason the Timberwolves would use the No. 1 overall pick on Lonzo Ball, De’Aaron Fox or Markelle Fultz. They’d have a tough decision to make should they get the No. 1 overall pick.
Would they draft a forward in Josh Jackson out of Kansas at No. 1 or try to trade back to see if they could still land him and then some? Jackson might be the one forward potentially worth the No. 1 overall pick. He offers tremendous upside above the rim, can operate as a secondary ball-handler and looks to be a tremendous defender.
Some theoretical trade partners for the Timberwolves should they land the No. 1 pick are the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns. Boston would give up the high-end pick the Celtics would be getting from the Nets to have an opportunity to draft Fultz. Minnesota could see if they could grab an Avery Bradley or a Marcus Smart to help out on defense for Thibodeau. Pretty much anybody not named Devin Booker could be available for trade from the Suns if they need the No. 1 pick to draft Ball.