For decades, the Minnesota Timberwolves organization have dealt with way more drama than winning. During the good times, the Wolves have found it nearly impossible to rise out of NBA mediocrity. In the bad times, they’ve struggled rise to stay atop the NBA Draft Lottery.

Coincidentally (or not), the Wolves’ place in the year-end league standings started to shift upwards shortly after their lottery luck improved. It started in 2015, when Minnesota landed No. 1 overall and drafted Karl-Anthony Towns. Then, the franchise was changed forever five years later (2020), when they won the lottery again, and drafted blossoming NBA phenom, Anthony Edwards.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals how Minnesota Timberwolves (probably) got screwed in the 1992 NBA Draft Lottery

But… could things have changed much much sooner than the 2020s? Maybe even prior to Kevin Garnett, who was selected by the Timberwolves No. 5 overall in 1995? Well, Shaquille O’Neal — who was drafted by the Orlando Magic No. 1 overall in 1992 out of LSU — wonders exactly that from time to time.

Recently, during an interview with independent sports reporter/personality, Ashley Nevel, Shaq rehashed a draft story he has told before, but one that many Wolves fans probably have not heard. It was born in 1992, when during a promotional event Shaquille O’Neal met former NBA commissioner David Stern, for the first time.

Related: Report: Rudy Gobert Dumps Pregnant Girlfriend, Kicks Her Out of House

Back then, Shaq was the cinch No.1 overall pick. So, Stern pulled him aside and asked O’Neal point-blank, whether he’d prefer to play in, “hot or cold” weather. Of course, Shaq answered, “hot”… and the rest is history conspiracy theory.

"In 1992… I meet Mr. [David] Stern… he pulled me to the side, 'You want to play where it's cold or where it's hot?' And I was like, 'hot.' And he smiled and I smiled… Orlando, Florida was No. 1."

– Shaq 😲

(via @AshleyNevel)pic.twitter.com/7c7ZbNWPWc

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 19, 2025

Shaq: “In 1992, I meet Mr. Stern in March. He says to me, ‘Hey, I can’t wait for you to come to the NBA.’ Then, he pulled me to the side, ‘Do you want to play where it’s cold or where it’s hot?’.

Ashley: “No…”

Shaq: “Yeah, he did. He asked me that. And I was like, ‘Hot’. He smiled, I smiled. A couple days later, they had the [NBA Draft Lottery] and Minnesota was No. 3. I was like, hmm. Then Charlotte was No. 2 and Orlando, FL was No. 1.”

Shaq on the NBA Draft Lottery possibly being rigged (via interview with Ashley Nevel)

I didn’t think much about it, but you hear a lot of these conspiracy theories and there’s a lot of situations that can make it sound true…so I don’t want to support conspiracy theories or anything but it was very interesting how it all played out.”

Entering that 1992 NBA lottery drawing, which was held in Portland, Oregon on June 24, 1992, the 15-67 Minnesota Timberwolves held the highest odds of any other team in the league (16.67%) to land the No. 1 overall pick, which was obviously going to be Shaq.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Open as Huge Underdogs…?

The Orlando Magic held the second-best odds, at (15.15%). Not only did the Magic jump the Wolves, though, as O’Neal mentioned. So did the Hornets, who selected Alonzo Mourning at No. 2 overall, before Minnesota picked Christian Laettner No. 3 overall.

Mavs trading Luka Doncic then landing No. 1 sparks memories from 1992

Prior to the Mavs landing the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, despite only having 1.8% chance — right after shocking the basketball world by gifting Luka Doncic to the Lakers via trade — the most tangible example of an NBA Draft Lottery conspiracy came from Shaq avoiding the Wolves in 1992.

A preview clip has been uploaded by the host of that podcast, however. Ashley Vevel , an independent sports personality and to the top of the NBA Draft Lottery It’s the first time in franchise history that has ever happened.

Throw in plenty of incompetency at the ownership and executive levels… and just like th in with thoseput competent leaders at the most important spots in the organization get what they deserve in the NBA Draft Lottery.

The NBA season is over and it’s finally time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to shift their attention to the playoffs draft lottery. But when they finally turn their head in that direction, they’ll realized how far down the lottery board with their recent winning ways.

Remember, Minnesota needs to land in the top-3 of June’s draft if they want to keep their pick. Should the Wolves fall out of the top-3, they’ll lose their first round selection to Golden State.

Winning ways

While the Wolves have been busy winning six of their last ten games, other teams in the bottom-seven haven’t mustered more than two (Orlando, Houston) victories in that same span. Minnesota started Chris Finch’s tenure with a 6-18 record. Something clicked around April 16, however.

That night, the Timberwolves started playing a better brand of basketball and they’ve posted a 9-7 record since, to prove it. In their season finale on Sunday night, the pups absolutely dominated the Dallas Mavericks (#5 seed in West playoffs) with a 136-121 ass-kicking that began right at the opening tip.

When Gersson Rosas shocked the NBA community by hiring Chris Finch off another team’s bench mid-season, he made it clear that winning games couldn’t wait for next year. I’m not sure he expected to fall out of the lottery’s top-5 in the process, but if Gerss really believes in what Finch represents, then he knew such a run was possible.

Who Got Better Since The All-Star Break? pic.twitter.com/nHADG84NxA

— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) May 11, 2021

All we can do now is wait. With or without the draft pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves have successfully gotten me aroused about their future. But some luck in the draft lottery could completely change the trajectory at a steep upward angle.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Timberwolves went out of body tonight vs the Orlando Magic in a basketball game that was about as competitive as my 1v1 vs my morning cereal. The final score was 128-96 but the Wolves led by 20+ for most of the first half and by 40+ for most of the second.

That’s not an exaggeration.

When you wish upon a staaaaaarrrr ????@StarTribune Highlights ???? pic.twitter.com/lSFV5HyaDx

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 10, 2021

With Sunday’s win, Minnesota moved into a 4-way tie for the third-worst record in the league. Just in case you haven’t heard, the Timberwolves will lose their 2021 first round pick if it isn’t in the top-3 so winning games proposes a problem, in that regard.

With every win the Wolves collect, their odds of keeping that pick get smaller and smaller. But here’s the problem: it’s difficult to tank or lose a lot of basketball games when you’re not that bad of a basketball team. While others around them in the standings pile up losses, KAT, D-Lo and Ant continue to improve and the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to prove themselves competent.

Finch and Co are now 7-5 in their last 12 games and you can literally see them get better on a nightly basis. The new head coach has clearly brought the Timberwolves to another level.

Even without the draft pick, the Timberwolves look like a real operation with Finch as HC and have a fun core to run it back next season with Bolmaro getting added.

Plus, a much higher ceiling from Ant compared to what most of us expected.

— Dane Mosher (@___daner) May 10, 2021

What kind of suite is Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch getting that it’s so much better than one of his player’s?! pic.twitter.com/sZjpFqbnam

— Tas Melas (@TasMelas) May 8, 2021

The teams around them suck

I mentioned the Wolves 7-5 record in their last 12 games. Every team they’re battling for a top lottery position loses pretty much every night out. The team they completely obliterated tonight, the Orlando Magic, have the 2nd-best recent record out of that bunch. They are 3-7 after tonight’s loss.

The Wolves had built themselves a hefty lead in the Loserville standings, while they lost game after game after game, early in the season. But now that those teams above them have caught up in the “L” column, there’s no looking back. It’s highly unlikely, at this point, that Minnesota finishes 2021 with a bottom-3 record.

At this point in the season, they’re just too good to lose as many games as the terrible teams who are tanking around them. But that’s ok… because I’m starting to believe they might be ok without another top pick, which I know is stupid.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been the NBA’s worst team for much of the season’s second half but not recently. After a victory last night vs the Sacramento Kings, the Wolves jumped the Houston Rockets in the league standings and moved just 2.5 games away from losing their stranglehold on a top-3 spot in the NBA Draft Lottery (bottom-3 in NBA standings).

The Wolves have 13 games remaining and have won 4 of their last 6. That’s way too healthy a pace to keep up with the 4 of every 5 games (on average) that teams are losing around them. That’s why the likes of Oklahoma City (losers of 11-straight) and Orlando (1-9 in last 10) have climbed into this conversation.

In other news, the Timberwolves are trying hurt their chances in the NBA Draft Lottery. 2.5 games from falling out of the bottom three. pic.twitter.com/vHGY5P3pwj

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 21, 2021

NBA Standings, as of Wednesday, Apr 21st 2021, and today’s matchups @NBA @NBAstats #dataviz pic.twitter.com/YTFdBTcGgK

— Chartball (@chartball) April 21, 2021

Winning or Lottery

Because of how the NBA Draft Lottery is structured, the top-3 (or bottom-3) teams all have a 14% chance of landing the #1 overall pick. But, it also means that even the worst teams can fall down the board when the balls start bouncing. Losing the most games far from guarantees you a top-3 pick like it used to. In fact, the Wolves’ odds to land a top-3 pick in 2021 is 30-40% no matter where they land in the bottom-5 of the standings.

In case you’ve forgotten, the Minnesota Timberwolves will lose their pick to the Golden State Warriors if it falls out of the top-3. Obviously, you want to have the best possible odds of keeping that pick but there’s a 60%+ chance that they lose it no matter what.

Because of that, I can’t blame Gersson Rosas or Chris Finch for prioritizing W’s over what might be a 5-10% difference in the Wolves’ keeping their 2021 NBA Draft pick. Landing a top-3 pick would be worth losing more games. But upping your chances by that small of a percent isn’t.

NBA Draft Lottery odds as they sit this morning (via @tankathon) pic.twitter.com/gXhqIxAqzf

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 21, 2021

Lottery Standings Watch for April 21st:

OKC (2 games up on Orlando) take on the Pacers

The Pistons (tied with Orlando) are in Dallas to play the Mavs

T-wolves (2.5 games back of Orlando) are playing the Kings

Rockets (3 games behind Orlando & worst in the NBA) host the Jazz

— The Sixth Man Show (@SixthManShow) April 21, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Did you feel that tension in the air today? Of course you did. As Minnesota Timberwolves fans, we’ve gotten used to the hopes and dreams of our franchise being determined by ping pong balls and oversized envelopes. So when NBA Draft Lottery night rolls around, tension hangs thick in the air throughout Minnesota, all day. It only gets worse when you log onto Timberwolves internet.

New rules for the NBA Draft Lottery now give the worst three teams the same 14% odds of landing the #1 overall pick. Because of that, 2020 lottery and draft hopes have been high around here since the Wolves snuck into the top worst-three, just as the NBA season came to an abrupt halt 5 months ago.

There was still a really good chance of sliding down, which I pointed out this morning, but did we expect anything positive to come easy with the Minnesota Timberwolves? The anxiety is all part of it. This is the night Wolves fans wait all year for. After a full day of maximum build up, I put on my big boy pants, plus a brave face… and turned on my TV at 7:30 PM CT. Here is what I saw:

pic.twitter.com/pugYRoUbVD

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) August 21, 2020

WE GOT IT!

The world has to be ending… is there a large comet barreling toward earth if you look out your window? The Minnesota Timberwolves just moved up in the Draft Lottery for the first time in their history and it was to step up and snag the #1 overall pick.

I am still having troubles breathing as I type this. The options are now endless for Gersson Rosas. He can look for a trade (Devin Booker anyone) or he can take the best player in this draft.

You will never again convince me that the NBA lottery is rigged. It is simply impossible at this point. With Golden State and New York in the mix this year, the NBA would have taken any team over the wolves…

I need a cigarette.

HOLY FUCK THE TIMBERWOLVES JUST WON THE NBA DRAFT LOTTERY THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!!!!!!!

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 21, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The NBA Draft Lottery is Thursday night and the Minnesota Timberwolves are tied with three other teams for the best odds to land the #1 overall pick. They, along with Golden State and Charlotte, have a 14% chance of holding the ace of October’s 2020 draft. All numbers come from NBA.com and Tankathon.com

Tomorrow, #Timberwolves fans (again) put our sanity in the hands of the NBA gods (or conspirators)…………. https://t.co/BZqqFd6Lsb pic.twitter.com/eK5Wq7OTMK

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 20, 2020

How the NBA Draft Lottery Works and the changes made for the 2020 version (via NBA.com)

The NBA Board of Governors approved changes to the lottery system on Sept. 28, 2017.

Under the revamped format, the NBA Draft Lottery will ensure that the team with the worst record will receive no worse than the fifth pick. Under the pre-2019 system, the team with the worst record would pick no lower than fourth.

The new system will level the odds at the top of the NBA Draft Lottery so that the teams with the three worst regular-season records will each have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery. In the pre-2019 structure, the top seed had a 25 percent of winning the lottery, the second seed had a 19.9 percent and the third seed had a 15.6 percent.

The odds for the remaining participants in the 14-team lottery will be reduced gradually after the top three.  For instance, the difference in lottery odds between the first three seeds (14 percent) and the fourth seed (12.5 percent) will be 1.5 percent.  The difference between the fourth seed and the fifth seed (10.5 percent) will be 2 percent, and the difference between the fifth seed and the sixth seed (9 percent) will be 1.5 percent.

After drawings are conducted for the first four picks of the NBA Draft, the other lottery teams will continue to pick in inverse order of their regular-season record.

Realistic Expectations for Timberwolves Fans

The new lottery format benefits the Minnesota Timberwolves in one major way. The tie they currently hold for the best odds at landing #1, wouldn’t have happened under last year’s lottery format. For that, Wolves fans are grateful.

But if you look at the table above, the Wolves’ highest odds actually site with the #6 overall pick (26%). Falling that far down the board would surely send the fanbase into absolute panic and utter dismay.

So while we are all happy to share the best chance league-wide, at landing that top pick, having a 1/4 chance of falling back to #6 is just as scary. At 59.8%, the Wolves have a better chance at falling out of the top-3, than they do of staying in it (40.2%).

I want all of Wolves nation to remain excited for tonight… I just want everyone to know the realistic odds of Thursday’s NBA Draft Lottery. Keep your head and hopes held high… but remember, the NBA hates Minnesota.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

It’s been a long time coming, but the NBA Draft Lottery is finally happening this Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by the great Rachel Nichols. The Minnesota Timberwolves are tied for the highest odds to land the number one overall pick.

Making the playoffs just once since their Western Conference Finals run in 2004, the NBA draft lottery has been Wolves’ fans biggest event every year. 2020 is no different.

President of Basketball Operations, Gersson Rosas, is virtually sending D’Angelo Russell to represent the Wolves’ 14% chance to land the #1 overall pick. The lefty hopes to bring some lottery luck to a snake-bitten franchise.

Should the Timberwolves get a top-three pick (it would be really bad luck if they didn’t), what is the best option for Rosas and Ryan Saunders?

D’Angelo Russell to represent #TWolves in lottery. https://t.co/2pJ0X1sxwS

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) August 18, 2020

Big Game Hunting

The Pack already has two bonafide stars in Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. Don’t forget, the Wolves also have the restricted free agent rights on budding star in Malik Beasley. The former Florida State star averaged 20.7 points and 3.5 three point makes in 14 games, after coming over from the Denver Nuggets.

Rosas has already shown his willingness to be aggressive and the Wolves have the ammo teams are looking for when dealing a star. Here are three trade options for the Timberwolves on NBA draft night.

Devin Booker

The Devin Booker situation in Phoenix reminds me a lot of the DeMarcus Cousins situation in Sacramento. The Suns tried to make the playoffs in the “bubble” but not even an 8-0 record could save them from the cut-line.

Was this the Suns last chance to convince Booker to stay in Phoenix? Possibly. They have a decent future, but I’d argue there is a better future in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Booker is already best friends with Russell and Towns and would make the Timberwolves unguardable on offense. He’s an effective scorer from all levels and lights-out from behind the arc.

Devin has been a star since entering the desert, averaging 26.6 points per game in back-to-back seasons. Of course, the Wolves still need to get better defensively, but adding Booker (if the price is right) would be too good to pass up.

Devin Booker’s season:

26.6 PPG
6.5 APG
4.2 RPG
49% FG
35% 3PT
92% FT

Bubble stats
30.5 PPG – 6.0 APG – 4.9 RPG

Only 23 years old…salute to Devin Booker on a great season ? pic.twitter.com/FVXWkvL51M

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 14, 2020

Booker is tied up for another five years, however, and might be hard for Rosas and Co. to fit under the salary cap. But man, would he look good in blue and green.

Buddy Hield

Since he entered the draft out of Oklahoma, I have wanted Buddy Hield in a Timberwolves uniform. Hield was a polarizing draft prospect, but never seemed to excel in New Orleans. He was eventually traded to Sacramento. Ever since becoming a King, Buddy has exceeded expectations, averaging a career-high 20.7 points per game a season ago.

Is Hield a star? Maybe not. Would Hield make the Timberwolves a better team? Absolutely. One thing the Timberwolves have never had is a lights-out shooter, something Hield would provide immediately. This past season, the former Sooner made almost 4 shots from deep per game.

This would be an intriguing move to make for the Timberwolves. It would cost less than Booker and would help Russell spread the floor offensively. I’d look long and hard at Hield this offseason, especially if the Wolves don’t love anyone they see in the top-3.

Buddy Hield this season:

19.2 PPG 4.6 RPG

42.9% FG (16.1 FGA) 39.4% 3PT (9.6 3PA) 84.6% FT (1.6 FTA)

Played 72 games. Started in 44 of them

271 made threes this year. Good enough for 11th in All Time threes made in a single season.

— Al ?? | (@ThybullyBall) August 14, 2020

Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons is the exact opposite of the two players mentioned above, which might be a good thing. While Booker and Hield would make the Timberwolves exponentially better on offense, Simmons would make the T-Wolves exponentially better on both ends of the floor.

In his career, Simmons has averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. The Australian product has shot 50 percent or better in each of those three seasons. Granted, almost every shot is from inside the paint.

The 6’8″ point guard is a nightmare for smaller normal-sized guards to defend. Defensively, Simmons is averaging just below two steals per game in his three-year career. He can effectively guard all five positions.

Why would the 76ers trade Simmons? The “process” hasn’t lived up to expectations and new GM Elton Brand didn’t draft Simmons. So, if the Sixers get blown away with an offer or really like someone in the front of the draft, they could be inclined to move the former first overall pick.

Even if the 2020 NBA Draft isn’t as strong as last year’s, the Timberwolves could make a move for a star of their liking. But let’s get lucky in Thursday night’s lottery, first.

Hunter Plante | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Timberwolves still have about a month before the NBA draft lottery takes place, and about three more months until draft day. However, it seems Gersson Rosas and Co. are chugging along in pre-draft process.

That includes meeting with draft prospects they are potentially interested in. According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP, one of those meetings will be with University of Arizona wing and Hopkins MN native, Zeke Nnaji, next week (via virtual interview).

Here is some fresh video of former Hopkins HS and Arizona star Zeke Nnaji. Shot looks good. Wasn’t that long ago that he won the Iverson Classic 3-point contest. He’ll interview with his hometown #Timberwolves next week. #Twolves pic.twitter.com/Q7kxXJTndZ

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 16, 2020

Does Zeke Nnaji + Minnesota Timberwolves make sense?

We all know about the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top-3 lottery pick. They rightfully earned that spot last season, finishing near the bottom of the NBA. They have another pick pending, though. Assuming the Brooklyn Nets still find a way to make the playoffs, while cooped in the Orlando bubble and undermanned, the Wolves are still set to receive their first round pick for the 2020 draft.

The Nets pick is projected to land around the 15th or 16th overall spot. The PF position is their biggest position of need, and Nnaji could fill it easily. His ability to shoot and to space the floor is exactly what Rosas wants.

The 6’11” Minnesota native was the 2019-20 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, averaging over 16 points and 8.6 boards per game. Nnaji is currently projected to be a mid-first round pick. He fits what the Wolves are searching for, but he wouldn’t be a fully-ready product right away.

The Wolves have done extensive work on many prospects, though they haven’t yet met with any projected lottery picks… With both the lottery and draft being pushed back due to the pandemic, it appears they have plenty of time to prepare for how they want to execute the draft. Nnaji might be available when it’s their turn, and I don’t think many around here would argue, if Gersson took the hometown kid.

Ameer Eldomiatti | Minnesota Sports Fan

As a Minnesota Timberwolves fan, I am used to just skipping the actual season (where games are played) and looking towards the off-season (where they aren’t). 2019-20 was no different, but it’s taking a lot longer to get to the off-season, or the “good part”… especially the NBA Draft and its lottery.

The Timberwolves were left out of the NBA’s “bubble”, meaning they will now look towards the NBA draft. Unfortunately, we’re still 3 months away (Oct. 16) from that actually taking place. First, we have to get to the lottery, which is still more than a month out (Aug. 25). When we finally get there, Minnesota will have a 14 percent chance at winning the lottery and landing the #1 overall pick. That is a 3-way tie for best odds in the league.

I’m not sure how the NBA draft lottery will work this year, but as of today, the Pistons have the fifth-best odds to win the lottery.

1. GS: 15-50 (14%)
2. CLE: 19-46 (14%)
3. MIN: 19-45 (14%)
4. ATL: 20-47 (12.5%)
5. DET: 20-46 (10.5%)

The draft is expected to be in October.

— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) June 3, 2020

Gersson Rosas & Co. had one heck of a trade deadline, acquiring players like D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez. The pieces are there, for a bright future. If the Wolves “win” the NBA lottery and get the first pick, who should they consider taking? I know that sentence is hyperbole, given the Wolves luck in past lotteries, but let’s play pretend anyway.

Anthony Edwards | Freshman | University of Georgia

Edwards is my favorite player of a weak draft class. The five-star number one recruit, rated by 247sports.com, opted to stay in his home state and play for Tom Crean and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Edwards had high expectations, but was playing for a team that had low expectations. On the season, Edwards averaged 19.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game and just under 2.5 assists per game. In his first two collegiate games, Edwards scored 24 against Western Carolina and 29 against The Citadel.

In the Maui Invitational, Edwards dropped a career-high 37 against Michigan State.

Edwards isn’t a great three-point shooter (28 percent), but he has elite athleticism, plays strong around the rim and he’s good defender with room to improve. Anthony is a decent passer, too, finishing second on the Bulldogs, with 91 assists in 32 games.

NBA draft net has Edwards’ comp as Dwayne Wade/Donovan Mitchell.

James Wiseman | Freshman | University of Memphis

This would be one interesting pairing down low for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wiseman is 7’1, but played in just three games thanks to an NCAA violation. In his only three games as a Tiger, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Wiseman would make an interesting fit, because they are different players. Towns struggles defensively, but is one of the best scorers in the league, while Wiseman would help make-up for all of Towns’ struggles without the ball.

Here’s what NBADraftRoom.com says about Wiseman:

Wiseman is a force on the defensive end, where he alters and blocks a lot of shots, showing good timing, quick elevation and good shot blocking instincts. His awareness on the defensive end is something that can’t be taught and Wiseman projects as a legit rim protector at the college and NBA levels. He also does a nice job of altering perimeter shots and has enough foot-speed to bother guards beyond the three point line.

NBADraftRoom.com

James Wiseman at Memphis!

In his 3 games he averaged 19.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG & 3.0 BPG @BigTicket_JW pic.twitter.com/efKGfMywia

— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) July 7, 2020

Obi Toppin | Sophomore | Dayton University

One of the best teams from a season ago, the Dayton Flyers had the most electric player in the nation, in Obi Toppin. They finished 29-2, before the NCAA Tournament was cancelled. The reigning Player of the Year and Dayton’s first consensus All-American, was averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds per game, while shooting 60% from the field.

Should the Wolves get the first pick, and use it to draft Toppin, it would shock a lot of people. There would be a lot of similarities to when the Cavaliers took Anthony Bennett in 2013. Toppin was better in college and has a higher ceiling than Bennett, but the shock factor would be huge.

I think Toppin is a better fit in Minnesota, than Wiseman, due to his unbelievable athleticism and above-average outside shot.

These three are the guys I like the most, should the Minnesota Timberwolves win the lottery. But, this is a weird draft and other guys who come to mind include: Lamelo Ball, Deni Avdija and Onyeka Okongwu.

The Wolves could use their draft capital to add another already-established star, too. Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, I’m looking at you. Booker might be looking at us, too…

With two first-round picks (depending if the Nets make the playoffs — they won’t), it’s not out of the question for Rosas to go big-name hunting, out on the trade market.

via GIPHY

Hunter Plante | Minnesota Sports Fan

The National Basketball League is officially returning, as the country looks to start rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, most of the NBA is returning. The Minnesota Timberwolves won’t be. They will be watching from home, preparing for the NBA Draft (and crossing fingers for the lottery), as the best 22 teams compete together at Disney World.

Source: 29-1 vote https://t.co/NT87g6EENp

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020

Sources: Additional dates NBA informed on Board of Governors call:
– June 15, players located internationally return to market
– June 21, all players report
– June 22, coronavirus testing begins https://t.co/kFZajb3Ioz

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2020

Who needs the Timberwolves to be jacked up about the NBA returning? That echoes the sentiment around the country, for all bad teams, I’d guess. Hell, I’m watching Korean baseball every morning from 5-7 AM.

As much as I’d prefer the Wolves returning over any other team, it doesn’t make sense in the long-term. Who knows what will happen during a historic NBA return like the one we’re about to see. The bottom of the NBA Draft Lottery was so tightly packed before play was halted, that picking up a few wins to end the season, could be detrimental to the future of this team.

KAT and D-Lo will have to pull up Twitter with the rest of us, as these first games start to tip-off. I’ll bet they still smile too. Sure, they would rather be playing.. but just the idea of life getting (somewhat) back to normal, will put an extra pep in everyone’s step.

Draft Dates Also Leaked

There will be plenty of souls who are kept busy throughout the Minnesota front office, though. The NBA Draft and the Lottery that precedes it, are on the verge of being announced. It’s clear, owners and GM’s don’t want to deal with holding workouts and interviews in the virtual world.

Setting everything out until August/October is about as far out as they could push it. Training Camp for the 2020-21 season is rumored to start in November, according to Shams’ tweet above.

NBA has set an August 25 Draft Lottery and October 15 Draft, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 4, 2020

This is a NBA Draft that Rosas and Co. cannot miss. This will hopefully be the last season they are picking out of the lottery… so a mistake isn’t an option. That’s why trading their top-3 pick might be the best bet.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan