2018 NBA Mock Draft: Where do Doncic, Ayton and Bagley land?

The Wolves’ need for diversity in their offense is best exemplified by the value the team has gotten from Nemanja Bjelica the past two seasons. Bates-Diop would give them another piece to mix and match lineups while also adding much-need shooting.

Since the beginning of last season, Bjelica has shot 37 percent from 3, making him basically the only Minnesota player to consistently provide spacing in the regular rotation. This has prompted coach Tom Thibodeau to go so far as to put him in the lineup on the wing, as the nominal small forward next to two other bigs. It works the majority of the time because Bjelica can credibly guard some bigger wings and has enough off the bounce pop that defenses can’t ignore him. Imagine he and Bates-Diop on the court together.

Instead of clogging the paint with two bigs, Minnesota would finally have the personnel to space the floor for its isolation-heavy offense. The team would look more like Houston and less like Oklahoma City. Based on this year’s playoffs, it’s clear which you’d rather be.

Bates-Diop shot 36 percent from distance this season and was able to attack mismatches against B1G competition. He would simplify roles for the Timberwolves — Taj Gibson as backup center, Bjelica as potentially the starting 4, Gorgui Dieng on another team.