WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 27: Isaiah Evans #3 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the second half against the St. John’s Red Storm in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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Anne Erickson

By Anne Erickson

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The Minnesota Timberwolves were up and down in the playoffs. On one hand, they beat the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, which was a huge upset. That was a high point for the franchise.

After the Nuggets, the Timberwolves were favorites to give the Spurs a run for their money. But, they didn't. The Timberwolves' story ended in the second round of the playoffs, and now, it's back to the drawing board.

The Timberwolves have a few problems, especially with point guard depth. They didn't do much for their case in the NBA draft, either, according to Ben Golliver of ESPN. He gives them a C- grade for their draft. Ouch.

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The Timberwolves picked Isaiah Evans at No. 33 and Trey Kaufman-Renn at No. 59 in the draft.

"There are several possible explanations for why Evans unexpectedly slipped into the second round: The Duke product is light for an NBA wing, doesn't put a ton of downhill pressure on the defense and can't be counted on to make plays for his teammates," he says. "The Timberwolves will cast Evans as a floor spacer for Anthony Edwards, but they really could have used another player who knows how to run an offense. Though Julius Randle seemed to wear out his welcome, trading him to Brooklyn will only put more pressure to create on Edwards' plate."

My Take: Did the Timberwolves Blow It?

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Isaiah Evans #3 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the second half against the St. John's Red Storm in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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No, the Timberwolves didn't blow it in the NBA draft. They've gotten some harsh criticism for their moves, but that doesn't mean they did anything wrong.

What Minnesota did, though, is take some risks. They made some chancy moves. Evans could go either way. He's not a given. So, he wasn't the safest pick, but he could prove a valuable addition to the mix.

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If Evans and Edwards work together well, which is probably the plan, the critics will look back and have pie in their face. But, if the Timberwolves still struggle with inconsistency, they may regret not taking a real offensive weapon.

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