Which Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Pick Will Bite The Hardest

In the discussion of the next draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the potential to benefit the most in franchise history. Not only do they have three first round draft picks, but also they have four contracts expiring, with one possible resigning in Rodney Carney.

The two main draft options the T'Wolves are looking at are Ricky Rubio and Hasheem Thabeet. These two each have their own major contributions they can give to the T'Wolves.

Ricky Rubio:

I've talked about putting Randy Foye at the PG position for next year due to the more experience he has now. However, Randy Foye is also a clear-cut starter for the SG position on this team. He's developing a polished three pointer, and has a deadly inside lay-up game.

Ricky Rubio on the other hand, runs a ball club with the savvy of a veteran PG like Steve Nash. He also has a great defensive game. His hands are a physical manifestation of an octopus' suction cups. He dishes the rock off like Steve Nash, with the basketball IQ of Chris Paul. He's developing a polished jumper, and is potentially the best player ever to come from Europe.

Note: While playing in Europe at the age of 15, he had three triple doubles and one quadruple double. In playing USA at the Olympics (despite injuring his shooting hand), he had six points, six assists, three rebounds, and two steals. On the T’Wolves, Rubio would have multiple weapons to dish the ball off too. He'd have Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes and of course, Al Jefferson.

(Prediction if T'Wolves draft him): 14.0 PPG, 8.0 APG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG.


Hasheem Thabeet:

Al Jefferson is absolutely tremendous at center, but he does not possess the defensive skills to match his offensive skills. Al Jefferson is a 20-10 guy, and gets a block here and there. But at 6'10, he is undersized, and having a guy like Kevin Love at PF with him, would make a guy like Acie Law look like Jason Kidd in the paint.

Adding a 7'3 blocking machine at center, while putting Al Jefferson at PF would prove to be a dominant pair of big men. Even at this height, he did not average 10 RPG during college, so I don't expect him to average any more than 6 RPG.

(Prediction if T'Wolves draft him):  9.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 6.0 RPG, 3.0 BPG


Which draft pick will bite the hardest? Pound for pound Ricky Rubio would probably have the larger impact depending on Randy Foye. as a combo guard. But having a pure point guard with Rubio will allow Foye to shoot more jumpers, which is what he's great at.

The answer: Ricky Rubio

And if somehow the Timberwolves ended up with both? That my friends is a whole nother' article.

(After the draft, look for my article on my prediction on how the season will play out with our new official roster)