The Timberwolves walked out of the first round without making a pick, but they did not walk out of the draft entirely. After sending No. 28 to the Brooklyn Nets in the Julius Randle trade, Minnesota now holds No. 33, the third pick of the second round and one of the more useful spots left on the board for a team still trying to fix its offense around Anthony Edwards.
Top 5 NBA Draft Steals Available for Timberwolves at No. 33
Timberwolves Salvage Draft Chance
The Timberwolves’ decision to trade back may not sound like much, but it still puts them at the front of the next tier. They are trying to survive a crucial summer without making the offense around Edwards thinner. They still need shooting, secondary creation and backcourt depth. If they keep the pick, there should still be a few names worth the swing.
Isaiah Evans: Upside Bet
If Isaiah Evans makes it to No. 33, he should be near the top of Minnesota’s board.
The Duke guard is 6-foot-6, can score off of movement, and brings the shot-making the Timberwolves still need to improve the offense around Edwards. He averaged 15 points per game in his second season and shot 38% from three across two years.
The concerns are there. Evans still needs to get stronger and is not a finished defender. But at No. 33, the question is not perfection; it is upside. With Evans, the pick is worth it.
Meleek Thomas: Long-Term Swing
If Minnesota wants a longer-term play, Meleek Thomas is the name.
The Arkansas freshman averaged 15.6 points and shot 41.6% from three. He is not polished yet, which is why he could still be on the board. The shot selection can get messy, and the defense needs work.
But the scoring talent is real, and that is why Thomas fits here. He would not need to carry anything right away, and the Timberwolves could bring him along slowly behind Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu as one of several intriguing draft sleepers in this range.
Emanuel Sharp: Clean Fit
There may not be a cleaner Timberwolves fit left than Emanuel Sharp.
The Houston guard averaged 15.5 points as a senior, shot the ball well and played in a system that demands defensive effort. He may still be a 6-foot-3 guard, but the appeal is clear. Minnesota needs shooting and players who can stay on the floor.
That is the case for Sharp. He may not have the ceiling of Evans or Thomas, but if the Timberwolves want someone who can compete sooner, Sharp belongs near the top.
Ryan Conwell and Bruce Thornton: Solid Guard Options
If Minnesota wants another scorer, Ryan Conwell is in play. If it wants a steadier ballhandler, Bruce Thornton is the better answer.
Conwell averaged 18.8 points at Louisville and can play on or off the ball. That matters for a team still needing another offensive player behind Edwards.
Thornton averaged nearly 20 points at Ohio State, added 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists, and shot 40 percent from three. He is smaller at 6-foot-2, but if the Timberwolves want another guard who can settle the offense behind Dosunmu, there is a case for him.
The Last Word on the Timberwolves’ Draft
The first round is over. For Minnesota, the draft is not. If the Timberwolves stay at No. 33, they still have a real chance to leave this week with a player who helps clean up the roster.
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