2025 NBA Draft Thread: Detroit Pick Edition

[Loaf_of_bread]

This pick kind of feels like a lottery pick that we shouldn't have gotten.. that being said, i would take a shot in the dark on khaman maluach. We have enough depth. Just go for highest long-term upside.

[BlacJacMac]

2025 NBA mock draft: First-round intel, 59 pick predictions

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)
Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
Junior | TS%: 59.7%

Scouting report: Wolf might be college basketball's most unique player, ranking as the best pick-and-roll player in this draft class while being measured at 7-0. He's exceptionally skilled with his ability to handle, pass and finish with either hand, and is making 37% of his 3-pointers. He also rebounds prolifically, makes plays in passing lanes and protects the rim with outstanding basketball instincts. He isn't seeing as many reps at point guard as he did earlier in the season after racking up 22 turnovers in a recent five-game span -- NBA teams have seen different sides of his game, however, with the myriad ways he contributes to winning. He's a little polarizing among scouts because of his unorthodox style, combined with his average speed, high turnover rate (27%) and poor free throw shooting (63%). He will have a lot of NBA eyes on him in March to see how he fares in some of Michigan's biggest games. -- Givony

NBA fit and intel: The Timberwolves likely weren't expecting to receive this pick at the outset of the season, with the Pistons' resurgence now giving it a real chance to convey, despite top-13 protections. It would be a nice break for Minnesota, given the team is not replete with future draft assets and the roster could use some balancing after trading away Karl-Anthony Towns. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly has historically been unafraid to swing big on talent, and Wolf's unique perimeter skill set at his size makes him one of the more interesting first-round prospects to monitor going into the spring. His playmaking could give the Minnesota rotation a boost. -- Woo

33. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah)
Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina, freshman

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43781826/2025-nba-mock-draft-predictions-team-intel-all-59-first-second-round-picks-players

[winforlose]

2025 NBA mock draft: First-round intel, 59 pick predictions

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)
Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
Junior | TS%: 59.7%

Scouting report: Wolf might be college basketball's most unique player, ranking as the best pick-and-roll player in this draft class while being measured at 7-0. He's exceptionally skilled with his ability to handle, pass and finish with either hand, and is making 37% of his 3-pointers. He also rebounds prolifically, makes plays in passing lanes and protects the rim with outstanding basketball instincts. He isn't seeing as many reps at point guard as he did earlier in the season after racking up 22 turnovers in a recent five-game span -- NBA teams have seen different sides of his game, however, with the myriad ways he contributes to winning. He's a little polarizing among scouts because of his unorthodox style, combined with his average speed, high turnover rate (27%) and poor free throw shooting (63%). He will have a lot of NBA eyes on him in March to see how he fares in some of Michigan's biggest games. -- Givony

NBA fit and intel: The Timberwolves likely weren't expecting to receive this pick at the outset of the season, with the Pistons' resurgence now giving it a real chance to convey, despite top-13 protections. It would be a nice break for Minnesota, given the team is not replete with future draft assets and the roster could use some balancing after trading away Karl-Anthony Towns. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly has historically been unafraid to swing big on talent, and Wolf's unique perimeter skill set at his size makes him one of the more interesting first-round prospects to monitor going into the spring. His playmaking could give the Minnesota rotation a boost. -- Woo

33. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah)
Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina, freshman

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43781826/2025-nba-mock-draft-predictions-team-intel-all-59-first-second-round-picks-players

So I don’t watch or follow college basketball or draft stuff at all. I thought it saw here or on Canis that Wolf is someone we were considering for the Utah pick?

[BlacJacMac]

2025 NBA mock draft: First-round intel, 59 pick predictions

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)
Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
Junior | TS%: 59.7%

Scouting report: Wolf might be college basketball's most unique player, ranking as the best pick-and-roll player in this draft class while being measured at 7-0. He's exceptionally skilled with his ability to handle, pass and finish with either hand, and is making 37% of his 3-pointers. He also rebounds prolifically, makes plays in passing lanes and protects the rim with outstanding basketball instincts. He isn't seeing as many reps at point guard as he did earlier in the season after racking up 22 turnovers in a recent five-game span -- NBA teams have seen different sides of his game, however, with the myriad ways he contributes to winning. He's a little polarizing among scouts because of his unorthodox style, combined with his average speed, high turnover rate (27%) and poor free throw shooting (63%). He will have a lot of NBA eyes on him in March to see how he fares in some of Michigan's biggest games. -- Givony

NBA fit and intel: The Timberwolves likely weren't expecting to receive this pick at the outset of the season, with the Pistons' resurgence now giving it a real chance to convey, despite top-13 protections. It would be a nice break for Minnesota, given the team is not replete with future draft assets and the roster could use some balancing after trading away Karl-Anthony Towns. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly has historically been unafraid to swing big on talent, and Wolf's unique perimeter skill set at his size makes him one of the more interesting first-round prospects to monitor going into the spring. His playmaking could give the Minnesota rotation a boost. -- Woo

33. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Utah)
Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina, freshman

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43781826/2025-nba-mock-draft-predictions-team-intel-all-59-first-second-round-picks-players

So I don’t watch or follow college basketball or draft stuff at all. I thought it saw here or on Canis that Wolf is someone we were considering for the Utah pick?

He's a favorite of a few of us with the Detroit pick.

[Klomp]

Wolf would be the absolute perfect pick, in my mind.

This is another Naz Reid. And with a name like Wolf, it's a marketing home run.

Read on Twitter

[winforlose]

Wolf would be the absolute perfect pick, in my mind.

This is another Naz Reid. And with a name like Wolf, it's a marketing home run.

Read on Twitter

Wolves fans already start conversations with Dilly Dilly and end them with Naz Reid. I guess we could work in Danny Wolf, but that might be pushing it

[shrink]

He just had to grow up thinking about playing in the NBA for Minnesota, right?

[Klomp]

What could have been

Read on Twitter

[BlacJacMac]

Watch on YouTube

;t=58s&ab_channel=Swish

[thinktank]

Too much overlap with Reid. Not enough overlap with Gobert. We need a backup C who can defend and pair with Reid.

[BlacJacMac]

Too much overlap with Reid. Not enough overlap with Gobert. We need a backup C who can defend and pair with Reid.

And that's why I like Wolf for that role - and eventually to replace Rudy.

[thinktank]

Too much overlap with Reid. Not enough overlap with Gobert. We need a backup C who can defend and pair with Reid.

And that's why I like Wolf for that role - and eventually to replace Rudy.

Read what I wrote again.

Wolf cannot replace Rudy.

That’s… insane.

[BlacJacMac]

Too much overlap with Reid. Not enough overlap with Gobert. We need a backup C who can defend and pair with Reid.

And that's why I like Wolf for that role - and eventually to replace Rudy.

Read what I wrote again.

Wolf cannot replace Rudy.

That’s… insane.

Or, and I know this is crazy talk, so bear with me.

We have different opinions of Wolf.

Unpossible? Maybe!

[Neeva]

I am not feeling Wolf at all, maybe with the Utah srp but not with the Pistons pick. He just looks slow and like a career backup center . I think wolves need to take a shot at someone that can become Ant’s Robin with the Pistons pick which hopefully will be pick 14. Wouldn’t put it past Connelly to try to move up either.

[Mattya]

Too much overlap with Reid. Not enough overlap with Gobert. We need a backup C who can defend and pair with Reid.

And that's why I like Wolf for that role - and eventually to replace Rudy.

Read what I wrote again.

Wolf cannot replace Rudy.

That’s… insane.

He doesn't have to replace Rudy

[Klomp]

I am not feeling Wolf at all, maybe with the Utah srp but not with the Pistons pick. He just looks slow and like a career backup center . I think wolves need to take a shot at someone that can become Ant’s Robin with the Pistons pick which hopefully will be pick 14. Wouldn’t put it past Connelly to try to move up either.

He is almost surely quicker than Karl-Anthony Towns.

But if by "looks slow" you inadvertently meant "white", then sure I guess you have a point.

[Klomp]

But I will insert a cautionary tale here: I have been fooled by the big white center before, and I'm not ashamed to admit it....

[cmoss84]

https://youtu.be/3tMZszzL7j0?si=N1g8W_kWOyDw17oi

Khaman Maluach is the choice if he comes out

Been seeing this dude go top-5 lately in mocks. How about Derik Queen? Deri-Queen? Damnit I miss the chicken strip baskets in MN!

[thinktank]

And that's why I like Wolf for that role - and eventually to replace Rudy.

Read what I wrote again.

Wolf cannot replace Rudy.

That’s… insane.

He doesn't have to replace Rudy

He doesn’t but a good first is a great opportunity to get Rudy’s understudy.

You have young guys everywhere but C.

What young guys do you have at C? Nobody.

I could see going Robin for Ant too.

C is a big need tho. A true two-way C, unlike Rudy, who is all D, and just picks and lobs on O.

[Mattya]

Read what I wrote again.

Wolf cannot replace Rudy.

That’s… insane.

He doesn't have to replace Rudy

He doesn’t but a good first is a great opportunity to get Rudy’s understudy.

You have young guys everywhere but C.

What young guys do you have at C? Nobody.

I could see going Robin for Ant too.

C is a big need tho. A true two-way C, unlike Rudy, who is all D, and just picks and lobs on O.

okay, so why do we have to take a true two way center, and which player in this draft in our range is even close to a two way center with that pick.

Meanwhile, Wolf shows potential to be able to handle, facilitate, run pick and roll, and shoot both stationary and step backs. His potential fit in this offense with Ant is very high. Give me the most talented player over just trying to fit square pegs into round holes that we "wish" were available.

Watch on YouTube