Best draft picks in Minnesota Timberwolves history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Minnesota Timberwolves history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#28. Shabazz Muhammad
- Stacker score: 1.1
- 14th overall pick in 2013
- Played five seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 2.8 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.5 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, 0.0 VORP
#27. Glenn Robinson
- Stacker score: 1.1
- 40th overall pick in 2014
- Played one season with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 2.6 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 7.9 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 0.4 VORP
#26. Luc Longley
- Stacker score: 1.6
- Seventh overall pick in 1991
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.5 win shares, -2.6 box plus/minus, -1.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#25. Wesley Johnson
- Stacker score: 1.8
- Fourth overall pick in 2010
- Played two seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.7 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 1.2 VORP
#24. Derrick Williams
- Stacker score: 2.1
- Second overall pick in 2011
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 8.9 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.1 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 0.8 VORP
#23. Craig Smith
- Stacker score: 2.5
- 36th overall pick in 2006
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 3.9 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.0 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#22. Anthony Edwards
- Stacker score: 2.6
- First overall pick in 2020
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 21.8 PTS, 5.1 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.9 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 4.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#21. Howard Eisley
- Stacker score: 2.9
- 30th overall pick in 1994
- Played one season with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 1.7 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.5 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#20. Nikola Peković
- Stacker score: 3.2
- 31st overall pick in 2008
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 12.6 PTS, 6.7 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.8 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#19. Wayne Ellington
- Stacker score: 3.4
- 28th overall pick in 2009
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 2.1 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.1 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 2.1 VORP
#18. Corey Brewer
- Stacker score: 3.6
- Seventh overall pick in 2007
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.5 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011 NBA Champ
#17. Randy Foye
- Stacker score: 4.3
- Seventh overall pick in 2006
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 10.3 PTS, 2.2 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.5 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 3.8 VORP
#16. Andrew Wiggins
- Stacker score: 4.4
- First overall pick in 2014
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 19.1 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.3 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 3.0 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 2022 NBA Champ
--- 2014-15 ROY
--- 1x All Star
#15. Nemanja Bjelica
- Stacker score: 4.4
- 35th overall pick in 2010
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.0 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2022 NBA Champ
#14. Isaiah Rider
- Stacker score: 4.5
- Fifth overall pick in 1993
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 16.7 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.8 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 4.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2001 NBA Champ
#13. Tyus Jones
- Stacker score: 5.6
- 24th overall pick in 2015
- Played four seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 1.9 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.0 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 6.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#12. Gorgui Dieng
- Stacker score: 6.4
- 21st overall pick in 2013
- Played seven seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.7 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 7.1 VORP
#11. Rasho Nesterović
- Stacker score: 6.8
- 17th overall pick in 1998
- Played five seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 5.1 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 39.9 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 5.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2005 NBA Champ
#10. Pooh Richardson
- Stacker score: 7.0
- 10th overall pick in 1989
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 2.8 REB, 6.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.7 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 10.5 VORP
#9. Zach LaVine
- Stacker score: 8.2
- 13th overall pick in 2014
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 20.5 PTS, 4.0 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.8 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 12.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.2%
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#8. Ricky Rubio
- Stacker score: 10.0
- Fifth overall pick in 2009
- Played seven seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 4.1 REB, 7.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.3 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 13.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
#7. Wally Szczerbiak
- Stacker score: 11.5
- Sixth overall pick in 1999
- Played seven seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 53.3 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 13.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#6. Donyell Marshall
- Stacker score: 14.4
- Fourth overall pick in 1994
- Played one season with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 6.7 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.0 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 19.9 VORP
#5. Christian Laettner
- Stacker score: 15.1
- Third overall pick in 1992
- Played four seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 12.8 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 64.9 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 19.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#4. Karl-Anthony Towns
- Stacker score: 20.8
- First overall pick in 2015
- Played eight seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 23.0 PTS, 11.2 REB, 3.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 68.7 win shares, 4.7 box plus/minus, 29.5 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 10.8%
- Accolades
--- 2015-16 ROY
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#3. Stephon Marbury
- Stacker score: 21.7
- Fourth overall pick in 1996
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 19.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 7.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 77.5 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 30.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 7.0%
- Accolades
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#2. Kevin Love
- Stacker score: 35.9
- Fifth overall pick in 2008
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 16.9 PTS, 10.4 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 91.2 win shares, 3.2 box plus/minus, 34.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 73.5%
- Accolades
--- 2016 NBA Champ
--- 2010-11 TRB Champ
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
#1. Kevin Garnett
- Stacker score: 74.7
- Fifth overall pick in 1995
- Played 14 seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 17.8 PTS, 10.0 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 191.4 win shares, 5.6 box plus/minus, 96.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2008 NBA Champ
--- 2003-04 MVP
--- 2007-08 Def. POY
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
