Piece By: David Heiman
First Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves
I think the Timberwolves should take Anthony Edwards out of Georgia with this pick. While I am personally very high on LaMelo Ball, Edwards is the safer pick of the two. With Edwards, you’re getting a very high floor player with the ceiling of a Victor Oladipo or Bradley Beal type guy. He would slide in easily with DeAngelo Russell, Karl Anthony Towns, and last year's first-round pick Jarret Culver. With those 4 in a starting lineup, plus the rest of the guys the Timberwolves can draft, sign in free agency, and trade for, the Timberwolves can potentially set themselves up for a playoff run next year. It’s only a matter of time until Karl Anthony Towns wants out, with the lack of success he has had, so getting an almost sure quality starter in the league would be huge for Minnesota.
Second Pick: Golden State Warriors
I think the Warriors take LaMelo here. They are in a position where they can take a risk at the top of the draft, given the talent they already have on their team. With a healthy Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, this team is ready to bounce back into a contender in the west. With a lost season this past year, they played a lot of guys big minutes who will end up coming off the bench this year, making them one of the deepest teams in the league. While I could see the Warriors going with James Wiseman, their championship success didn’t come from using a big man so slotting Lamelo into the starting lineup with Steph, Klay, Wiggins, and Draymond could easily be enough to push them into a top 3-4 seed in the West.
Third Pick: Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are big winners if the draft plays out this way. They have decent guard depth but lack any type of long term big man that they can win with. Plug James Wiseman on this team and they’re back on the right track. From day one, Wiseman is a guy they can advertise as a franchise’s savior. While he comes with risk, only playing a few games in college, his talent is undeniable and it’s not like he was dealing with any injuries that kept him out of last year. Pair Wiseman with Devonta Graham, Terry Rozier, and Miles Bridges and let the team make a run at a few guys in free agency and this team could be fighting for a playoff position a year from now.