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Report: Timberwolves Open to Moving Up in NBA Draft
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- Report: Timberwolves Open to Moving Up in NBA Draft
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Timberwolves on X (@Timberwolves)
In case you blinked, after the NBA Finals wrapped up earlier this week, this is your reminder that the first round of the NBA Draft — where the Minnesota Timberwolves currently hold the No. 17 overall pick — will take place Wednesday.
It'll be the extremely "lucky" Dallas Mavericks who go on the clock with pick No. 1 at 7:00 p.m. CDT, tomorrow. They will draft Cooper Flag (Duke). From there, nobody really knows what will happen, but there is an expectation that there could be a lot of activity throughout the lottery, where the Wolves sit just outside of.
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
But will that remain the case all night? According to Darren "Doogie" Wolfson (KSTP) Tuesday on the Flagrant Howls podcast (SKOR North) , nobody knows the answer to that question.
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But 36 hours out, Doogie believes it's more likely the Timberwolves trade the No. 17 pick Wednesday night, than it is they wind up moving the first pick overall pick in the second round (No. 31 overall) on Thursday, a draft pick Minnesota currently owns, as well.
Minnesota Timberwolves open to another 1st round trade up in NBA Draft?
In fact, Wolfson read off a text to Phil Mackey and Judd Zulgad that was sent to him on Monday, from a high-ranking league executive on a team picking "above the Wolves" that revealed Minnesota is not only open-minded to moving down the draft board Wednesday night… but they're having talks to move up it too.
"Right now, I will tell you it's more likely they keep 31 compared to 17. I will tell you, on pick 17… In fact, i'll read it verbatim from a team picking above the Wolves what this person told me on Monday. "[The Timberwolves] are open to moving up or down in the first round."
That's the first time I had heard that they were open-minded to moving up. Now, [would I] bet on a scenario where they move up tomorrow night? Probably not, but this is a team that is above the Wolves, that tells me, 'hey the Wolves have shown some interest in moving up'."
Related: Knicks Interviewing Timberwolves Assistant for Vacant Coaching Job
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Because the Minnesota Timberwolves have been on the hunt for Kevin Durant , and other final pieces to what they believe is a championship roster, it's a bit surprising to hear that Tim Connelly may be interested in moving up for another talented young piece, that might not be ready for a big role on this roster immediately.
Would Connelly really trade up… again?
With that being said, just about every big move this PoBO makes shocks the fanbase and most of the basketball world. Since arriving in Minneapolis, Connelly has pulled off blockbuster deals that sent a bevy of recently drafted players out of town for Rudy Gobert . More recently, he sent Karl-Anthony Towns packing for Julius Randle .
Even more relevant, however, was just last NBA Draft. Let's not forget that Minnesota pulled off arguably the most shocking trade of that night , dealing away a future first round pick to the San Antonio Spurs , in exchange for No. 8 overall, Kentucky PG, Rob Dillingham .
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Thus, the most surprising thing that could probably happen tomorrow night would be if Tim Connelly and the Minnesota Timberwolves stood pat and did nothing. Either way, we will have our keyboards ready for whatever does go down on draft night.
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