NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Ian Levy | May 31, 2017

Feb 18, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) shoots a three point shot over Washington Huskies guard David Crisp (1) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavili. Arizona Wildcats defeated Washington Huskies 76-68. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /

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The Minnesota Timberwolves hold the No. 7 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and will be looking to take another step forward with their young core. Which prospects should they target?

The Minnesota Timberwolves disappointed last season, albeit up against wildly overinflated expectations of them chasing 50 wins and pushing for a playoff spot. The defense didn’t improve much in their first year under Tom Thibodeau, although Karl-Anthony Towns seems on the cusp of stardom and Andrew Wiggins blossomed into a much more efficient scorer.

Last year’s first round pick, Kris Dunn, still looks like a huge question mark and Minnesota still doesn’t seem to know what they want to do with Ricky Rubio. As they look to make more progress this offseason, which players should they consider taking with the No. 7 pick?

5. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville

Mitchell might be a bit of a stretch inside the top-10 — he’s currently ranked as the No. 13 prospect on The Step Back’s Big Board — but he’s been a steady riser since the college season ended. At 6-foot-3, Mitchell’s height is less than ideal, but he makes up for it with a 6-foot-10 wingspan.

On defense is where Mitchell really shines as a prospect right now. Thanks to a high motor and that enormous wingspan, he should be able to capably defend both guard positions and be extremely disruptive in passing lanes. On offense, his ceiling is likely as a complementary piece — offering reliable spot-up shooting and some secondary creation ability. But of all the prospects in this draft, Mitchell looks like one of the most likely candidates to become a solid 3-and-D contributor.

The Timberwolves may not want to take prospect perceived to have a lower upside than some of the others available at their slot, but Mitchell could be a huge help. Pairing him with Dunn, LaVine, or Rubio in the backcourt would give a nice blend of offensive and defensive pairings and he could be the kind of role player that really helps Towns and Wiggins shine.

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