Minnesota Timberwolves Select Kris Dunn In NBA Draft

With the fifth pick in the NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Kris Dunn, according to CBS Sports. New head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau had Kris Dunn as his top choice. As the 6’4″, 220-pound guard was available, Thibodeau was quick to jump on the selection for the Timberwolves.

One of the biggest reasons why the Minnesota Timberwolves hired Tom Thibodeau was because of his commitment to the defensive side of the ball. The team had no issues with scoring. However, they often times were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA because of a lack of focus on that side of the ball.

Unlike most young basketball players, Kris Dunn actually takes a lot of pride in playing defense. He likes to lock down opposing point guards and prevent them from setting up the offense. Dunn likes to use his size and length to disrupt opposing offenses.

.@KrisDunn3 took the stage in style as the 5th overall pick by @Timberwolves at the #NBADrafthttps://t.co/ArjwChBth0

— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 24, 2016

Since he is committed to playing defense, Kris Dunn has already won over Tom Thibodeau. The former Chicago Bulls head coach is hoping that Dunn can do the same thing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thibodeau is hoping that the former Providence Friars star can set an example for his teammates.

One of Kris Dunn’s new teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves is Karl Anthony Towns, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. The two of them are already familiar with one another, as they played together in high school. That should help Dunn and Towns develop immediate chemistry with one another.

The arrival of Kris Dunn should have some consequences for Ricky Rubio, the current point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves. This should enable Tom Thibodeau to trade the veteran guard to another NBA team in exchange for other rotational players. Minnesota is said to be looking for another forward to play next to Andrew Wiggins.

There should be plenty of interest in Ricky Rubio from other NBA teams. He’s proven to be a capable starter. Rubio is capable of setting up an offense. He’s very committed to playing defense, which is something that is hard to find nowadays.

Kris Dunn was highly coveted by a couple of NBA teams during draft night. As a guy that can play both point guard and shooting guard, executives loved the idea of adding someone that versatile to their roster. Dunn has quite the upside, and many believe that he can be a star in the National Basketball Association.

The Chicago Bulls were a team that was reportedly in discussion with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA Draft to work out a trade for Kris Dunn. The Bulls were said to be willing to trade All-Star guard Jimmy Butler in order to get Dunn.

Had negotiations between the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves worked out, Jimmy Butler would have been reunited with Tom Thibodeau, his former head coach. In return, the Bulls would have picked up Kris Dunn and Zach Lavine, a phenomenal slam dunk champion that can draw in an audience.

The other NBA team that was said to be highly interested in acquiring Kris Dunn was the Philadelphia 76ers. Management wanted badly to pair up the dynamic guard with Ben Simmons, the versatile forward who was taken first overall in the draft. The Sixers have been dangling Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor in trade talks.

Whether the Minnesota Timberwolves keep Kris Dunn or trade him off to another team in the NBA, that’s still up for grabs. One way or another, Dunn has a very good chance at being a star in the National Basketball Association.

[Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images]