NBA Draft 2012: What Should the Minnesota Timberwolves Do with First-Round Pick?

With the No. 18 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves should choose Kentucky's Terrence Jones.

Although large in stature, Jones performs well at the small forward position. The 20-year-old averaged 15.5 points and 8.8 rebounds for UK, and his play style is compared to that of NBA forward Marvin Williams.

Jones played point guard early in his high school years, and the experience continues to reflect in his ball-handling and maneuvering skills. Following are just a few positives noted on NBADraft.net:

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Displays good patience down low, with surprisingly good footwork and ability to finish over either shoulder ... Makes prudent decisions passing out of double teams (1.6 ast) ... Extremely well put together frame for a 19-year old with broad, burly shoulders ... His wingspan is outrageous allowing him to rebound out of his area (8.7 reb), block shots at their apex (1.9 blk) and get his hands into passing lanes (1.1 stl) ... Length, lateral mobility and quickness off the deck make him a versatile force on the defensive end and on both backboards ... Instant fast break potential with his ability to handle and push the rock in transition ...

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Other factors are acknowledged as well—unorthodox shot mechanics, emotional weakness—that could make Jones a risk. This late in the draft, though, it's a risk worth taking.

Most mock drafts slate Jones to still be available at No. 18, and the Portland native could help fill a void in the Wolves' lineup.

Derrick Williams wasn't exactly what Minnesota expected in his rookie season, and second-year forward Wesley Johnson continued to disappoint.

In Tom Lewis' words:

"The jury is still out on [Williams] after his rookie season showed flashes of great play but nothing consistent. [Johnson] is trending toward a full-fledged disappointment as another young, athletic big forward for the Wolves."

Williams holds a lot of potential, and he's certain to improve any team he goes to, but he hasn't proven to be an impact as early as anticipated. The rookie's 6'8", 241-lb frame just doesn't fit well into a small forward position, and he won't receive much time at power forward as long as Kevin Love is around.

Whereas Johnson likely won't fetch much on the market in return, Williams could be packaged in a deal to bring Lakers F-C Pau Gasol to Minny.

Love and Gasol would be a dynamic duo for the Wolves, solidifying the post play and simultaneously bringing in a larger fan base for the team. As an added bonus, Gasol would transition well to playing with point guard Ricky Rubio, as the two have previous on-court experience together in Spain.

Williams proves more than expendable in exchange for bringing Gasol in, and Jones will be a perfect option to cover the small forward position.