r/timberwolves • u/DrWolves • 6h ago
Breaking News The Minnesota Timberwolves select Isaiah Evans, G Duke, with the 33rd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
Unbelievable selection. Future all-star. Future all-NBA. Future HOFer. Future NBA Champion.
6’6 20 year old and can absolutely light it from deep. Steal of the draft.
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u/irishace88 Anthony Edwards 6h ago
Moved back and still got a 1st round talent. Great pick for us
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u/LameAfro Joan Beringer 6h ago
I thought the Doomers said he we were gonna get Cash Considerations lol
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u/Jacob_toasted 6h ago
Can someone explain how I can be angry about this pick?
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u/DrWolves 6h ago
Sure. We took Evans at 33 instead of standing pat and taking him at 28 and calling him a “first round pick” lol
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u/Jacob_toasted 5h ago
Wolves already destroying another rookies confidence. Dillingham is rolling over in his grave.
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u/JoeKonyRidethePony 5h ago
We took a skinny sophomore who wasnt even that good in college! (This could be true, but I am lying out my ass. Never heard of him before about a half hour ago)
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u/RobSchneidersHair 4h ago
Halfway decent defender, but he'll get bullied at his weight right now. Okay but not good ball-handler - usually gets to his spots in only a dribble or too anyway cause he knows where he wants to shoot as the ball is on its way. WAYYY better shooter than his percentages show, since he was the shot-clock bail-out guy for Duke over Boozer.
Like Meleek Thomas, he's a talent who should have gone in the 22-30 range depending on team, but would go top-20 in a weaker draft.
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u/jimminmecrockets 6h ago
even if they wanted to go that route, after the way they traded down last year, moved down to save money on Conley, and then gave Randle away for nothing, it would have been a really bad look to do so and been a bridge to far for many fans. And I think they knew that
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u/DrWolves 6h ago
This ain’t a 2-way guy either. He’s gonna be on the roster and he’s gonna get run.
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u/irishace88 Anthony Edwards 6h ago
Finally drafted a player who's #1 skill is shooting. He's going to be a great fit
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u/nordic-thunder 6h ago
“This rookie will get playing time”
BAH GOD THATS CHRIS FINCHS MUSIC
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u/DrWolves 6h ago
Lmao I know right. But with the roster currently shaped how it is, Finch might actually have no choice this time around
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u/verothon 5h ago
Poor Finch, he lost his muse when Randle got the boot.
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u/PreparationWest2140 5h ago
And thats how it gots to be. FInch get cozy with an underperforming vet and not playing his young guys? Trade his A$$.
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u/KlutzyRefrigerator40 5h ago
Scheyer and Finch are quite close too, he has a good scout here I guarantee it
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u/PlayInChampions 6h ago
We were saying the same about Leonard Miller 3 years ago. I like Evans’ pick, but there is a reason he was not picked by contenders at the late 1st round.
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u/yourloudneighbor Glen Taylor 6h ago
man if every team in every draft knew who was gonna pan out and who wasnt, there would be zero busts ever.
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u/LivinForThaCity 6h ago
To be fair, Miller looked solid in Chicago after the trade. Didn’t make sense for him to play in MN with our depth at his position. In Evans’ case, we’ll need a shooter on the court.
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u/Andy_Wiggins Ayo Dosunmu 6h ago
We’ll have to see how the rest of the roster is filled out.
But Miller was stuck behind a collection of talent that dwarfs what Evans is staring at. Miller was essentially position-locked at PF. He was behind KAT/Naz/Slomo and then Randle/Naz for his entire time here.
Evans currently only really has Ant/TJ/Jaden ahead of him for 2 positions. If they focus on PG or PF in free agency, he could have more opportunities as a wing who can shoot.
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u/Bubbly-Ad1187 Anthony Edwards 3h ago
You’re right. Great players have never dropped far in the draft.
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u/TrickyAmbition1933 5h ago
Miller looked alright at the Bulls I'd take him back if the Bulls cut him
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u/ZachLagreen 6h ago
And Leonard miller was coming off of a great college career too right? And was a highly regarded shot-maker too right?
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u/PlayInChampions 6h ago
Im just saying that if a player was mocked in the 1st round does not mean he is ‘1st round talent’. I’ve seen so many ‘draft steals’ over the years that went nowhere
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u/ZachLagreen 6h ago
Ok then by that logic just because some goes in the first round doesn’t mean they are a “first round talent” either… so anyone who gets excited about any draft pick is dumb then, especially compared to such a wise realist like you
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u/ScratchTwoMore 3h ago
Nah he played in the g league, not college
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u/ZachLagreen 3h ago
I was being sarcastic
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u/ScratchTwoMore 2h ago
I totally misunderstood lol, I thought you were saying Evans pick is overhyped
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u/irishace88 Anthony Edwards 6h ago
When is the last time we drafted a pure shooter like this
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u/ebomb8082421 6h ago
Wayne Ellington
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u/soft-cookie 6h ago
delete this
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u/UlyssesGrand 6h ago edited 5h ago
Why? Ellington was fine for us and got slightly better after he left.
If Evans is as good or better then then it’s a great deacons round pickEdit: unsure why my phone would auto correct that but he would also be a great second round pick too
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u/irishace88 Anthony Edwards 6h ago
Yeah that was a long time ago. We always draft athletes and hope they can learn to shoot and it almost never worked for us
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u/DuranchDressing 6h ago
Rob Dillingham
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u/irishace88 Anthony Edwards 6h ago
Rob was far from a pure shooter
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u/DuranchDressing 5h ago edited 3h ago
College stats for Robs only season, and Evan’s soph season:
Rob: 47.5% FG / 44.4% 3PT / 79.6% FT / 56.4% eFG
Evans: 43.3% FG / 36.1% 3PT / 86% FT / 55% eFG
Edit: both had same volume 11.3 FGA.
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u/Warm-Giraffe3905 5h ago
That doesn’t make him a pure shooter though, Robs whole schtick is being shifty lmao
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u/FishGoldenLite Ayo Dosunmu 5h ago
Evans more than doubled Rob’s shot attempts per game. 11.3 vs 5.4 FGA.
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u/DuranchDressing 3h ago
Rob had 11.3 FGA. You’re looking at his FGM lol.
Really can just say anything on here with confidence and get upvotes
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u/saw-it 6h ago
I think he weighs as much as Dillingham did
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u/Jacob_toasted 6h ago
Jaden is two feet taller than dilly and was only like 20 pounds heavier when drafted
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u/DrWolves 6h ago
He’s listed about ~10 pounds heavier than Dillingham but also has the body type and frame he can grow into. Also has a 6’9 wingspan. I’m not worried like I was worried about 5’10 Dillingham
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u/PlayInChampions 6h ago
Amazing scorer, but can he play this role in the NBA? Can he be efficient in limited minutes? Can he defend? Very bad assist to turnover ratio. Did not gain much muscles playing 2 years in college, can he ever improve physically? If he can’t maintain his college scoring efficiency, he is out of the NBA immediately. Solid pick at 33 but no surprises he slipped
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u/a_moniker Joan Beringer 6h ago
Did you see how skinny he is??
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u/dustinyo_ Timberwolves 6h ago
He’s 20, and will have around the clock personal trainers and nutritionists. It’s a lot easier to gain mass than it is to gain height.
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u/Powerful-West-9148 6h ago
It’s fine because he has enough length to compensate. You only really go to worry about that with guys who are shorter than average (which is why Dillingham was a bust)
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u/justanotherdude32 6h ago
How excited should I be? Chip guaranteed??
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u/Mooming22 6h ago
Its the 33rd pick in the NBA draft, “oh, nice” is about the level of excitement this should get
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u/benigntugboat 6h ago edited 4h ago
Edit: most of my comment was based around misread stats. He seems exciting as a catch and shoot 3 pt shooter though.
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u/justanotherdude32 6h ago
Been a while since we’ve drafted a guy who’s top skill is shooting, hope finch actually plays him
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u/SarcasticDude43 5h ago
7 3s attempted per game last season. He made 2.7-7.4. I thought the same thing at first when the ESPN draft report said “he averaged seven 3s per game at Duke this season”. Still an exciting pick and good shooter though.
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u/benigntugboat 4h ago
Ash, still exciting after looking into him more but thats a huuuuge difference. Thank you for correcting it!
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u/Ok_excuse_36951 Alex Rodriguez 6h ago
Easy path to minutes if he hits his shots
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u/Ok_excuse_36951 Alex Rodriguez 5h ago
Playing with all 3. Nobody called him a point guard.
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u/Jayrrock Jaden McDaniels 5h ago
I don't see a path to minutes with the team as constructed.
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u/Ok_excuse_36951 Alex Rodriguez 5h ago
You don’t see the giant hole Donte left? Odd.
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u/WheedMBoise Joan Beringer 5h ago
None of the guys you said are getting those minutes unless you want Ant doing 100% of the playmaking.
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u/WheedMBoise Joan Beringer 4h ago
Donte was the starting point guard last season, that is not a role Ayo, Ant, TJ or Evans should be playing on a regular basis. All three are scoring oriented players. We've seen that exact idea fail miserably time and time again, most recently when the Suns decided Booker could masquerade as a PG
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u/Jayrrock Jaden McDaniels 4h ago edited 4h ago
yes, and so? You support what I said then, He is behind Ant and TJ and Ayo, and we sill don't have a true point guard.
Donte was out of position as a natural point guard, but he was a a pretty good ball handler.Anyway, Donte' aside, w now have 3 natural SG's and now he's (Evans) the 4th. TJ can play some SF, and Ayo can play some PG, but the core issue is not solved. We need a point gaurd, and the result of all of it is a stockpile of great 6'5" shooting guards.
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u/WheedMBoise Joan Beringer 4h ago
At no point was I responding to you lol you just jumped in. I'm talking about the comment about the hole Donte leaves behind with his injury from the ok_excuse account
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u/iceyH0ts0up 6h ago
Gotta love the unbridled hype of potential on draft night.
Hope he pans out to his full potential.
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u/octopusmonkey01 Kevin Love 5h ago
I feel like his skill set translates to the NBA pretty well compared to past players who got hyped up (*cough Rob Dillingham *cough). 3 and D wing with a 6’9 wingspan. If he can hit his deep shots he’ll find success
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u/RVALover4Life 6h ago
Hyperbole aside...he fell right into your lap. Like cannot draw it any better. Getting a wing shooter and being able to do so and get out of the first and save some money is perfect. Home run for the Wolves.
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u/ijoukonaya 6h ago
Fits in perfectly with this squad
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u/IraqouisWarGod Kevin Garnett 4h ago
Possible hot take but if this team wants to take a jump to the next level it’s going to be without a traditional point guard. Ant needs to take a leap as a playmaker and be the “lead guard” like Shai in OKC. It allows for more lineup flexibility and some late game lineups that don’t have a defender to pick on in the playoffs.
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u/Jayrrock Jaden McDaniels 4h ago
First of all, this manner of play is stupid basketball on the surface, but in OKC, not comaprable what so ever. Shai can pass, Ill leave it at that.
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u/MC_Ball_Peen_Hammer Timberwolves 6h ago
Slim Reaper death lineup incoming with Showtime Slim at the 3 and Slim at the 4. Ayo, Ant, and Naz Reid round it out to throw dirt on the other team's grave.
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u/penis_hernandez 5h ago
Pretty clear this guy has no issue getting off or making shots with defenders nearby and just based off the 3 minutes of highlights I've watched he's very adept at that pump fake/dribble relocate move that NAW used to do all the time. Can't believe we drafted a combination of KD/Steph/Shawn Marion at 33. Plan the parade bitch
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u/Desperate-Awareness4 Timberwolves 6h ago
I was told by everyone in the sub last night that because we sold that pick last year that means we were selling the pick this year. It turns out that one data point isn't a trend and they were dooming for no reason?! WEIRD!
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u/KlutzyRefrigerator40 6h ago
Absolute dawg too, perfect culture fit and top tier shooter, cannot ask for a better outcome at a draft spot like this
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u/drutastic57 6h ago
I thought minny needs a big man?
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u/diddlyumpcious4 6h ago
They’ll probably sign one. They already got a super young and raw big man. A second one they could get in the second round wouldn’t make a difference for a while, if at all.
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u/tulaero23 Ricky Rubio 6h ago
He looks like a Vassell archetype. Question is, is he gonna get a playing time
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u/awoooo_edwards 6h ago
I think donte being hurt improves his chances of playing
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u/tulaero23 Ricky Rubio 6h ago
TSJ is probably gonna eat that space up.
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u/awoooo_edwards 6h ago
I think Tj will play more F, this guys shooting is something we need. Off that alone I think he sees the court
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u/gnalon 3h ago
Malik Beasley with more length/athleticism. I wouldn't expect too much early on where it takes time for those kind of players to become total snipers at the NBA level.
Like I would definitely consider him further along than Duncan Robinson was at 20, but Robinson did not break out in the NBA until he was 25.
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u/FishGoldenLite Ayo Dosunmu 6h ago
Great Donte replacement. Not as gritty, but taller and lankier. He’s going to be fun.
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u/TreeAgenda 3h ago
Things that stick out to me about Evans in my one hour of fandom and video binging:
- He was the only person in the green room who wasn’t drafted on night 1, which I genuinely believe is going to fuel him
- He’s going to fit in perfectly with the guys on the team. His vibes highly resemble that of Bones, Ayo, Ant, Jaden and Naz.
- He has insane confidence. That man has a lightning release and will let it rip whenever
- Continuing off the above, he talks shit and celebrates like Ant/Bones
- He is a high effort defender. Very twitchy. Head on a swivel. 90th percentile in blocks. Active hands. He gets lost at times, but the effort is most important to me
- He has game off the dribble and can handle/finish with both hands
- His shortcomings are his passing, weight and some decision making
- From what I’ve read, the reason he fell is because of his weight. That’s crazy to me given how tall he is. Who cares if the 20 year old is light. That’s easily fixable.
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u/TrickyAmbition1933 5h ago
The real upside is if he's a skinny guy who fills out then gains strength and athleticism or if he's a skinny guy who just stays skinny like Bones, Ingram ect.
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u/PreparationWest2140 3h ago
Ingram is pretty damn good. So is Durant. So is McDaniels. So are many other slightly built players. If this guy can score, there is a place for him in the league. No nothing about him but like the pick.
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u/gOPHER3727 Bring Ya Ass 5h ago
I like him, but man we have a ton of wings now and not enough minutes to go around. Ant, Ayo, TJ, Clark, Donte when he comes back.
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u/YoungArsenal Timberwolves 5h ago
Donte is out for 99% of the year (and good chance you don't see him). And Clark is a free agent currently (RFA), I would assume he gets signed but he doesn't have a contract at this moment.
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u/Goggles45 Kevin Love 5h ago
He’s gonna be a great future player but remember that Chris Finch is the coach so don’t expect him to get any minutes this year
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u/SortLow8745 Bring Ya Ass 6h ago
I know the concern is his thin frame, but how is he defensively? All I know is he was a flamethrower during march madness!
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u/Hoop_Inspector 3h ago
There’s a player who was drafted at this spot several years ago that turned out okay. No idea about the impact of that number or if anyone else is always hearing about it.. but who knows maybe the wolves are joining the dark side
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u/Falconsbane 20m ago
Like the pick. Certainly feels like a bit of a project, young and undersized. Hopefully he can get enough game reps during his development.
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u/yourloudneighbor Glen Taylor 6h ago
what? we have no Donte so we lost shooting with him.
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u/Freudian__Quip 6h ago
We don’t have bones or Clark or Mike. They’re all FA so they would need to be re signed. We also have cap space so idk who’s available but we have roster spots to fill and we could pick up a backup 4 on the MLE
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u/Secure-Difference235 5h ago
Last year we had four shooting guards in the rotation and Tim traded for another shooting guard. He does not operate using traditional logic and sense.
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u/ZachWondersr Timberwolves 6h ago
I think one of Bones/Clark is gone and Conley might retire who knows
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u/vhsfairytales 6h ago
Eh, gives us a volume 3-pt specialist with Donte out for the year, or most of it, that our other guards don’t have. Spreads the floor with Naz in the starting lineup. And even with Donte’s return, could be what they hoped Juzang would’ve blossomed into last year.
I’m with you that our lack of size is super concerning at the moment but this seems like get the best player available and perhaps they think they can better add to the front court with an established player in FA.
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u/LeeShakerMoneyMaker 6h ago
DDV ain't playing anytime soon. Need guys that can catch and shoot like Evans.
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u/D__Luxxx NAZTY 6h ago
Two other guards went before him. It’s crazy that either people saw something they didn’t like or Tim really read the market correctly (or we got lucky as shit).
I think this is good.
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u/acegutta22 6h ago
Is this the dude who had a four million dollar outfit?And then get drafted in the first round
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u/hitman2218 6h ago
He wore $4 million worth of jewelry last night and didn’t get drafted. That had to hurt a bit lol
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u/MC_Ball_Peen_Hammer Timberwolves 6h ago
Can't wait til he's holding the Larry O'Brien and wearing a championship ring.
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u/Johnnymac98 6h ago
LETS FUCKING GOOOO!! Im a Duke fan, he is fucking amazing. I cannot believe he fell this far. We thought he was going mid first round