NBA Mock Draft 4.0: What if the New Orleans Pelicans Make the Playoffs?
New Orleans Pelicans: Mock Draft Pick #2
Scouting Report. 86. Minnesota Timberwolves. Onyeka Okongwu. 2. player. Pick Analysis. Power Forward
The Minnesota Timberwolves jumped up a spot in our simulation to get the second pick.
The Wolves could go a lot of ways in this draft, as they have some nice young talent to build around in Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley.
They could go for a point guard here, a pass-first type of guy who could play with either of their current shoot-first guards.
Another route would be to go for a power forward to pair with KAT, a guy who can protect the rim, grab boards and cover the paint when KAT steps out for three’s.
Okyeka Okongwu is a guy who has rocketed up the big boards over the last few weeks and could be the first power forward to come off the board. He averaged 2.7 blocks per game for USC, and pulls down 8.6 rebounds while adding 1.2 steals.
He profiles as a guy who won’t need the ball much to be effective, which is good, because the Wolves already have several ball dominant players.
The Timberwolves are another candidate to trade down, as they aren’t that far away from at least pushing for a playoff spot and may feel adding a veteran player would better serve their chances.