8:58 PM ET
Tim BontempsESPN
The Minnesota Timberwolves won the 2020 NBA draft lottery Thursday night and the right to the first pick in the draft later this year.
The Timberwolves, who ended the season with the third-worst record, will be followed by the Golden State Warriors, who ended the season with the worst record, and then the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls in the draft on Oct. 16.
” Theres a lot of steps left in this journey for us, however today was a significant one,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said afterward. “Were excited about the potential level of gamer that we can add to our company, but at the exact same time, we are going to be very aggressive and look at every opportunity to enhance this group. Weve got a great young core thats young and being one of the youngest, if not the youngest, team in the NBA.
” But this permits us to take a major step in talent acquisition, whether its in the draft or the trade market, whatever the case might be. It truly places us well progressing.”
The irony in the Warriors and wolves being the final two groups to get their choices Thursday night was that the two had actually engaged in a blockbuster trade at this years deadline, sending Russell from Golden State to Minnesota in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and a top-3 secured first-round pick in next years draft.
Russell and Stephen Curry– who started the season as Golden States starting backcourt– were the last 2 faces on the screen representing their respective organizations before it was figured out that Minnesota would get the first general choice for the very first time considering that drafting Towns in 2015.
” Thats why we brought DAngelo here,” Rosas stated. “Hes one of the faces of our company, and hes a better, as he revealed tonight. Were delighted.
” This is what its everything about. Were developing this properly, step by action. We want to make sure we do things the right method, and the opportunity … you wish to remain in a situation where hard work meets chance and you capture a break like this, whichs where we are at tonight.”
2 RelatedWhile Minnesota is building around pillars in Towns and Russell who are in their mid-20s, the Warriors are in a completely various location. Golden State, of course, made it to the previous 5 NBA Finals– and won three titles– prior to injuries decimated the lineup this season. They dropped to being the worst team in the league as Curry missed out on all but a handful of games with a hand injury and Klay Thompson remained the whole season with a torn ACL.
” Its strange,” Curry informed ESPNs Rachel Nichols before the draft order was revealed. “You showed that clip of the journey weve been on the past 5 or 6 years. … We want every experience in the league, so now we are in the lottery game attempting to get a high draft pick.
… So, were undoubtedly positive and understand what were capable of and well see how it all shakes out.”
Now armed with the second choice, the Warriors might enter into the trade market and strongly pursue skill to update their roster around their veteran core of Curry, Thompson and Green to attempt to introduce themselves back into the championship chase after next season– presuming all 3 stars are back to complete strength.
” I know theres a lot of story around us trading and what were going to make with it, but we do not really know anything at this moment,” Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers said. “We discovered out half an hour ago that we had the number 2 choice so thats the very first step as far as getting some clearness. And now it will be, Do we like someone there? We do not entirely manage the draft, however all you got to like is 2 people to be delighted, so that makes it a little simpler.
” But I have no idea what the worth is of that pick, just how much people covet it, and I do not believe Ill understand that anytime quickly. Thats something that might play out over the next couple months. But usually the number 2 choice is respectable so I think of either well enjoy– I think well enjoy with whatever choices, whatever path we take, well be pretty delighted about it.”
Myers likewise stated Curry, Thompson and Green will have input on what the team makes with the selection.
” Those guys, I seem like theyve earned a right to say whatever they want,” Myers stated. “And Ive also earned the right to listen and do what we believe is right, too. Its a shared regard.
” Theyve constantly been cooperative and thoughtful, and whether its a minimum gamer, we ask their viewpoint, often on trades we ask their opinion. When men win 3 championships for you, I think they deserve that.
” I hope theyve liked what weve done. We havent been perfect, but I think weve offered those three people some great tools to go out and win with, and I believe that they would state the very same thing … but I dont think they are the type, nor do they want to have the duty, pressing us in a direction that we do not want to go in. Thats not something theyve ever done before.”
The Hornets and Bulls leapt up from the eighth and seventh spots, respectively– although they werent rather as lucky as the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies remained in going up from those spots to the leading two in 2015.
For Charlotte, it enables the team to get a young foundation to put alongside point guard Devonte Graham, the teams agent for the draft lottery, and forwards Miles Bridges and PJ Washington.
” I believe Ive been pretty consistent with what we require,” basic manager Mitch Kupchak stated. “I dont believe our team is at the phase of advancement where we might say, Hey, we require a big or we require a guard or we require a wing and we pass on possibly much better talent to fill a position.
Chicago gets a little bit of luck early in the period of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, who took control of for John Paxson as the groups top decision-maker earlier this year.
“You get the finest skill. Thats what were going to be looking for, the greatest advantage player.”
Rather of the usual gathering of agents from the 14 groups taking part in the lotto, this years illustration was done essentially, with all 14 teams represented in a video teleconference as the ping pong balls were drawn in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Unlike in 2015, when Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were the clear very first and second choices in the draft, this years crop of potential customers is large open, with no agreement about who must go where. 2 of the potential alternatives, though, are LaMelo Ball, the younger bro of Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, and Georgia guard Anthony Edwards.
Ball, who invested the season playing in Australia, said on the lottery telecast on ESPN that the experience was helpful for him.
” I believe it made me a better basketball gamer that I am today,” Ball said. “I really started taking stuff serious and simply saw the world differently.”
” I know theres a lot of narrative around us trading and what were going to do with it, however we dont really understand anything at this point,” Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers said.” Those men, I feel like theyve made a right to say whatever they want,” Myers stated. We have not been ideal, but I think weve offered those three guys some excellent tools to go out and win with, and I think that they would say the very same thing … but I dont believe they are the type, nor do they want to have the duty, pressing us in a direction that we dont desire to go in.” I believe Ive been quite consistent with what we require,” general supervisor Mitch Kupchak said. “I do not think our team is at the stage of advancement where we could say, Hey, we require a big or we require a guard or we require a wing and we pass on perhaps much better skill to fill a position.
Edwards, on the other hand, said playing at Georgia prepared him for the ups and downs of life in the NBA.
” I feel like it prepared me since I discovered how to handle bad video games,” Edwards said. “I had a great deal of bad games, so it taught me how to take them on the chin and move on to the next.”
The other piece of service from the lottery game was that the Grizzlies did stagnate up from the 14th spot– meaning that choice will go to the Boston Celtics, as it was top-6 safeguarded. The Celtics now have three first-round choices (14th, 30th and 26th) in this years draft.
ESPNs Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez and Royce Young contributed to this report.
