The 2020 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching and it’s still unclear who the Minnesota Timberwolves will select with the No. 1 pick. Well, for that matter, it still remains to be seen if they will even stay at that spot as a trade is certainly an option. A player to watch is now James Wiseman.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, some within the Warriors organization hold a belief that Wiseman will be selected No. 1 overall— whether by the Minnesota Timberwolves, or by a team that trades up for the selection.
Multiple sources have told Bleacher Report the name they keep hearing now for the Timberwolves is James Wiseman. “Some within the Golden State Warriors think Wiseman is going No. 1, whether Minnesota keeps the pick or not,” one source plugged into the conversation said.
The fit for Wiseman with Karl-Anthony Towns would be a strange one given the lack of mobility the frontcourt would have against spread lineups. The interior could become quite cluttered in half-court offense, too.
It seems that NBA organizations have soured on taking LaMelo Ball with such a high pick given his poor performance in pre-draft interviews. Anthony Edwards hasn’t distinguished himself in a way to expect to go No. 1 as a clear-cut projection either.
The possibility of the Timberwolves trading down from No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft shouldn’t be overlooked. Wasserman also reported how the Charlotte Hornets ‘want Wiseman badly.’
However, sources also say the Charlotte Hornets “want Wiseman badly,” a plausible belief given the team’s established backcourt and need for a big man.
It seems both the Warriors and Hornets would be best suited to take James Wiseman with their respective selections in the event he were to still be available. However, the likelihood of that occurring appears to be increasingly unlikely— creating leverage for the Timberwolves.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will have a real opportunity to add some intriguing pieces around Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell this offseason. The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft will certainly help with that, whether by directly selecting in that slot or not.
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