Busting Brackets
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NBA Draft 2020: Biggest needs for each Western Conference franchise

By Tristan Freeman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with teammates  (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with teammates  (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

. Minnesota Timberwolves. . team. 86. .

Biggest needs: Shooting guard, power forward

Projected picks: 1, 17 via Brooklyn, 33

The grand winner of the NBA Draft lottery, the Timberwolves are looking for a third star to pair with both D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the top pick, it comes down to either Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards, along with point guard LaMelo Ball.

Part of this depends on how the franchise views Russell. If they think he can be the lead ball-handler and facilitator, then drafting an off-guard like Edwards makes sense. Otherwise, drafting Ball would work, although that would be a poor duo on the defensive end.

For the other first-round pick, Minnesota should target a power forward to pair with Towns. Washington’s Jaden McDaniels would be a quality selection, along with Zeke Nnaji of Arizona. Whoever the selection is should be able to space the floor and provide a cover for Towns, without getting in his way.

One offseason storyline the franchise will have to deal with is the free agency of Malik Beasley. A guard who came over from Denver in a trade, Beasley averaged over 20 ppg in the 14 games he played at Minnesota.

He may be too pricey for them this offseason, so look for the team to use that 33rd pick for a shooting guard, one that can help them move from the bottom-3 in three-point percentage. Isaiah Joe from Arkansas and former JUCO All-American wing Jay Scrubb are potential candidates.

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