The Minnesota Timberwolves finished with the work record in the NBA and for that they were awarded the No. 1 overall draft pick. This is a big thing for the Timberwolves who already have two former No. 1 overall draft picks in Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett who were both sent over as part of the Kevin Love trade. Now they have the chance to add one more to the mix and build and young, but growing franchise. So will the team eye Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns?
According to ESPN.com, the Minnesota Timberwolves are not eyeing a trade of the top pick. Owner Glen Taylor made it clear that the franchise likes the idea of getting young, talented players in the mix and after seeing the success of Wiggins, they understand what a top pick can bring to the court.
"Having the No. 1 pick gives us the opportunity to really evaluate everybody and really see what direction we want to go," Taylor said, via ESPN.com. "At this point, we're open. We'll pick the best player for us on June 25. I'm just really happy for the Minnesota fans because they've been so loyal and they've been so patient with us and this has been such a difficult year."
According to ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford, Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns are the best two players available in the draft. The Timberwolves need size and defensive help which happens to be the specialties of both players. However, while Okafor is downplaying the idea that being the No. 1 pick matters, Towns might force his way into being the No. 2 pick. According to Yahoo Sports' Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Towns wants to be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers who will select second and could potentially decline a meeting with the Timberwolves before the draft. Okafor went with the more media friendly method of saying he is simply happy to be in this position.
"I don't know that I should go No. 1," Okafor said, via SI Now. "I don't care. I just want to go to the right environment for me and the right team. I think the hype about No. 1 is more for the fans."
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks draft at No. 4 and certainly had their eye on both Okafor and Towns, but will now miss out on the chance to grab either player. TheNew York Post reports that the Knicks are considering trading the draft pick while they could potentially use it on a point guard like D'Angelo Russell or a defender like Willie Cauley-Stein.
