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NBA Draft: Timberwolves Have Decisions to Make

By Paul Bellesen

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is interviewed during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is interviewed during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dragan Bender has been a name that has been thrown around a lot this year. That has a lot to do with the Kristaps Porzingis phenomenon from last years draft. Behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Porzingis was the runner-up for the NBA Rookie of the Year. Teams do not want to pass up on another diamond in the rough.

Bender is 7’1″ and a skinny 225 pounds. He is a year younger than Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. Bender has a great outside shot and many General Managers believe he is the third best prospect in this draft. If he can put on some weight he could be an all-star. The one scary fact is that there is not a lot of tape on Bender. He only played 12 minutes a game last year with Tel Aviv and did not play the International games the summer before that due to a dispute with a shoe company.

That is the risk you take with international players and the success rate is low for that reason. The Timberwolves are not in the position to make a mistake with possibly the last high lottery pick they will have for years to come. There is so much upside, but a large chance at a bust and low floor. I believe the Timberwolves should take the safer play.

Some view the Power Forward position as the biggest need for the Timberwolves. All though after the all star break the starting five with Gorgui Dieng in it was one of the best in the NBA. Garnett is going to come back, barring that he can come back, and start and play small minutes to help on the defensive end of the ball. He will be familiar with Thibodeau’s defensive scheme as he was an assistant coach on the Boston championship team.

The biggest need is a 3 and D wing who excels at outside shooting. The 3 point shot has become such a facet of the modern NBA game, we have to get better in that field.

Next: The Next Kevin Love?

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