The smoke was still thick as of Monday.
Holding the top pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, Minnesota has actually been acting like a professional organization when it comes to the art of misinformation. Out of character for them considering all the botched decisions made by the usually junior varsity ownership, but the Timberwolves are still poker-faced on what they will do with No. 1.
First it was James Wiseman. At least until rumors leaked that the 7-foot-1 big man wanted nothing to do with Timberwolves, feeling that Karl-Anthony Towns’ presence would block his ability to be a starter.
Then Minnesota was linked to the LeMelo Ball train as late as last week. A train that has slowly pulled out of the station when breaking down the roster, however, and seeing the commitment they have made to D’Angelo Russell as their combo guard.
That leaves the player that many initially felt would be the No. 1 pick in this very underwhelming draft in Georgia scoring machine Anthony Edwards.
Having future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade come out and say that Edwards “can be better [than me]. America here is your number 1 pick!’’ doesn’t hurt, but Edwards just makes sense for Minnesota. Explosive and having an ability to score from long range, mid-range and at the rim, Edwards brings a toughness to one of the most mentally weak rosters in the Association.
He wasn’t suspended from college like Wiseman or a part of the Big Baller Brand chaos that Ball was. He has warts in his game like most of this draft class, but Edwards is move-in ready for the starting lineup in Minnesota.
Sure, the Timberwolves could always trade down, especially with several teams rumored to be all-in on moving up for Ball, and that scenario is also gaining momentum.
That’s why there is still smoke surrounding the top of the order. Minnesota could be the first domino to fall, completely altering the landscape of what happens two through four, and yes, that means the plans the Bulls could be making.
Golden State sits at No. 2, locking in on Wiseman, but also a big-time wildcard on trading down for a team coveting Ball if he slips out of the top pick.
Then comes Michael Jordan and his Charlotte Hornets — a team that misses on way more draft picks than it hits on.
Do they grab Ball?
He’s the best fit there if no franchise jumps up for a trade, but does Jordan want to deal with Papa Ball, LaVar, who claimed several years ago he would have beaten Jordan one-on-one?
Which brings in the Bulls at No. 4.
Yes, veteran Otto Porter Jr. has done the expected, letting the team know he will opt in for his $28.4 million payday this season, but when the small forward walks next summer there remains a huge vacancy at that position.
Deni Avdija is the obvious replacement for the Bulls to grab on Wednesday if they want to go the offensive, play-making route, or there’s Isaac Okoro if they want to grab the best defensive-minded forward. There is growing speculation that the Bulls would trade down and grab forward Patrick Williams or combo guard Tyrese Haliburton, but don’t discount new executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas again flexing those muscles of aggressiveness and trading with the Warriors to get Ball if he’s available at No. 2.
A source confirmed the Bulls skipped Ball’s latest workout, but that means very little in the draft intel department. This is a Bulls organization that privately confirmed they were going after older Ball brother, Lonzo, two years ago, and the film on LeMelo is already beyond dissected by the entire league.
So skipping a workout?
Posturing or just more smoke in an already very smoky room.
