NBA Draft 2019: Top 3 players for Minnesota Timbervolves to pick at No. 11

Sekou Doumbouya (F) — France

The stereotypical Frenchman doused in mystique but highly coveted by Mock Draft Shamans. I thought we learned our lesson about taking these guys in the lottery after the whole Franky Smokes Debacle of 2017. I’m sure Knick fans haven’t forgotten, even though the euphoria of Kevin Durant rumors demands their current despair.

Here I am, though, recommending he go 11th to Minnesota. I thumbed through my super secret player rankings and for the life of me couldn’t settle on a third reasonable selection for the Timberwolves. Through this process, I underwent an epiphany: I just hate Minnesota’s roster. Karl Towns is the only real light in an otherwise pitch-black cavern. He’s like Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread–an obscure 2017 movie that I hope you didn’t watch. DDL turns in a masterful performance as an English dress sewer, but the supporting cast was sinfully pathetic.

I wondered out loud if Paul Thomas Anderson rented out a manor and never told the workers he was filming a movie. I think Daniel Day-Lewis walked into a room full of real British housekeepers and thought whatever they’ll still nominate us for best picture. Sure enough, he made it happen. Almost like Jimmy Butler taking 4 bench warmers and slaughtering the T-Wolves’ starters. Yikes.

Minnesota’s supporting cast, while equally un-valuable, costs tens of millions more. This organization is writing checks of $19 million to Jeff Teague, $16 million to Gorgui Dieng, and $27 million to Andrew freaking Wiggins. Smoking three packs of cigarettes a day is healthier than reading those numbers to yourself every day. That’s a whole lot of money for a whole lot of mediocre basketball–and the Timberwolves would be ecstatic if Dieng checked in as mediocre next season.

For an organization this tied up in grotesque contracts, winning basketball is a forbidden pleasure. So why not swing for the fences on an 18-year-old, raw 230-pound forward who screams defensive versatility and just notched 34 points in a tournament semifinal overseas. Doumbouya is light years away from a finished project. His offensive skill set is raw, his defensive mindset is raw, and his footwork is…raw. Did I mention he’s kind of a raw prospect? Literary repetition aside, Doumbouya is a unique bundle of un-honed yet mouth-watering physical tools coupled with unexpected smoothness on offense.

What’s so tough about assessing his potential is the utter lack of focus within his skillset. After slicing through internet back channels to illegally stream a couple of his live games (and being hijacked by several R-rated anime viruses), I was able to view a few whole games of Doumbouya, but not without unreasonably large Chinese subtitles covering a portion of the screen. I gathered that Doumbouya, while not experienced as a defender or specifically skilled as a scorer, plays his ass off. It’s one thing to look confused and lost–which he is mentally at times–and stand around twiddling your thumbs away from the ball; but it’s encouraging to be lost and still battling.

I’ll say this: Doumbouya won’t fail in the NBA because of a lack of effort, like a Cam Reddish or Romeo Langford might (sorry). His energy is contagious, almost like Pascal Siakam, if you will. The comparisons to Pascal don’t end there. Sekou’s speed given his size, the encouraging three-point stroke, and the defensive competitiveness all echo the rangy forward to just scored 32 points in game one of the NBA Finals.

After hammering away at my keyboard for a few minutes with Doumbouya on the mind, I’m coming around on him as a prospect. As for my slander of the French at the beginning of my spiel, don’t worry, I’m aware Rudy Gobert exists. And Sekou very well could follow in his footsteps and develop into a high, high-level NBA player.

To quote Anthony Davis, “That’s all, folks.” For further chit chat, leave your own comments or suggestions down below or tweet me @Weber2MG!!