Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Up For Duke Wing Wendell Moore Jr. At No. 26 Overall

The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired Duke junior wing Wendell Moore Jr. — the No. 26 decide within the 2022 NBA Draft — in a take care of the Houston Rockets that can ship No. 29 on this yr’s draft and two future second-round choices, per The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.

Moore Jr. began all 39 video games for the Blue Devils this previous season, scoring 13.4 factors on 50.0/41.3/80.5 taking pictures splits, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 rebounds to 1.9 turnovers, 1.4 steals and 0.2 blocks over 33.9 minutes per recreation. He ranked No. 26 on my private large board and No. 38 on the Canis Hoopus composite large board.

One in every of 5 2022 NBA Draftees in Duke’s beginning lineup, the two-way pressure turned certainly one of Coach Okay’s most trusted gamers — and for good motive. He was a improbable secondary playmaker who made good, environment friendly choices with the ball in his palms. Moore Jr.’s 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked fourth among the many 45 gamers on my draft board. His lack of go off the dribble could restrict his upside as a playmaker that may get two ft within the paint and both make correct dump-off passes to bigs or spray it out to shooters, however even when that’s the case, there’s nonetheless a lot to love as an ancillary rotation participant.

When he wasn’t playmaking, he was making photographs at an environment friendly clip. Moore’s 50/40/80 taking pictures splits translated to a 60.5% true taking pictures proportion, which ranks thirteenth amongst these 45. Moore Jr. shoots an easy 3 ball with good, fast mechanics and was desirous to let it rip on catch-and-shoots (45%). He already strikes very nicely with out the ball, however can grow to be an much more impactful offensive participant if he improves as a shooter operating off screens.

Protection is probably the place Moore Jr. may present an instantaneous affect. Coach Okay entrusted the 6-foot-5, 216-pound Moore Jr. to protect elite ball-handlers and Moore Jr. answered the decision. With the assistance of his 7-foot-1 wingspan, he allowed 0.58 factors per possession to opposing pick-and-roll ball handlers and 0.62 factors per isolation on protection, each of that are insanely spectacular marks that rank among the many absolute best defenders in school basketball.

Moore Jr. will probably be 21 years outdated as a rookie, however he’ll come into the NBA as a really polished, well-rounded participant that has instantly translatable expertise as a point-of-attack defender and 3-point shooter that may assist Jordan McLaughlin’s playmaking off the bench on the second aspect.