It's March again, which means it's college basketball tournament time and yet another year the Timberwolves scout potential lottery draft picks. Currently slotted to pick fifth, here are nine guys they'll be watching:
Ben Simmons, LSU
Forward, 6-10, 19 years old
A point forward and ready-made NBA player who can really pass it, Simmons likely won't reach the NCAA tournament. You can question his motor and defensive commitment because of that, but the gifted Australian remains the clear-cut choice to go No. 1 in June. Not a great shooter.
Up next: SEC tournament in Nashville starting Thursday.
Brandan Ingram, Duke
Forward, 6-10, 18 years old
He's a dynamic wing player and excellent passer who lacks Simmons' strength and pro body but can shoot it deep. He might be the No. 1 pick in any other year, and it's not inconceivable that he still could be. Similar to Andrew Wiggins in some ways, he'd give the Wolves two wings with length and athleticism.
Up next: ACC tournament in Washington, D.C., starting Tuesday.
Dragan Bender, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Forward, 7-1, 18 years old
Let's be clear: He's not Kristaps Porzingis, but he is a very tall, very skilled "stretch" power forward who maybe can play all three frontcourt spots. He's the next generation of big man but isn't right now the kind of rugged bookend Sam Mitchell envisions next to Karl-Anthony Towns.
Next up: Hapoel Tel Aviv, Sunday.
Kris Dunn, Providence
Guard, 6-4, 21 years old
Yes, he's a point guard and the Wolves already have Ricky Rubio. But the Wolves also might ask how good Dunn can become and whether the answer is, like, John Wall good. He's big for his position, with a great first step and court vision and projects as a terrific defender. Concerns: outside shooting and relative old age.
Up next: Big East tournament in New York City starting Wednesday.
Henry Ellenson, Marquette
Forward, 6-10, 19 years old
The younger brother of former Gopher Wally Ellenson, Henry has moved up draft boards because of an impressively productive freshman season. He's an NBA "stretch" power forward at a position of need for the Wolves. ESPN.com calls him a poor man's Kevin Love.
Up next: Big East tournament in New York City starting Wednesday.
Jamal Murray, Kentucky
Guard, 6-5, 19 years old
The best part of a Kentucky team that isn't what it was a season ago, he's a skilled combo guard who can really shoot it when he gets going. He played with Wiggins on Canada's national team last summer and would fit in a three-guard rotation with Rubio and Zach LaVine.
Up next: SEC tournament in Nashville beginning Wednesday.
Jaylen Brown, California
Forward, 6-7, 19 years old
He's another impressive athlete the Wolves could pair on the wing with Wiggins. Plays hard, a scorer who can finish at the rim, but he must improve his shot. Could become an elite defender.
Up next: Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas starting Wednesday.
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Center, 7-0, 20 years old
He's the kind of athletic big man Mitchell wants to put beside Towns, an Austrian who can run, rebound and is much stronger than he was but not as strong as he needs to be.
Up next: Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas starting Wednesday.
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Guard, 6-4, 22 years old
The Wolves need shooters, and this guy has elevated Oklahoma and his draft stock by being college basketball's best beyond the three-point line. A college senior, his size and age are concerns. But, man, can he shoot it.
Up next: Big 12 tournament in Kansas City starting Wednesday.
NBA short takes
Homecoming, sort of
Less than two weeks after he left, San Antonio guard Andre Miller returns to Target Center on Tuesday with his new team and renewed hope of winning an NBA title at age 39.
The Wolves granted his request to be released so the NBA's oldest player — 37 days older than new teammate Tim Duncan — could finish the season with a title contender.
"I'm still kind of shocked," Miller told San Antonio reporters last week. "You play against these players for a long time and know the tradition here, then come over here and it's kind of shocking. I'm still dealing with it."
Chuck changes mind
Apparently, it's TNT analyst Charles Barkley's prerogative to change his mind. And he has, switching allegiances after supporting Oklahoma City's chances to upset mighty Golden State in the Western Conference all season. The Thunder's defensive liabilities have him reversing course.
"I'm off the Oklahoma City bandwagon," he said during Thursday's studio show. "You know whose bandwagon I'm on? The Los Angeles Clippers. If Blake Griffin comes back and dominates down low, the L.A. Clippers [have] a chance of winning the world championship."
Did you know?
Even Miller's return Tuesday couldn't convince NBA TV to keep that Spurs-Wolves game on its schedule. The network will show Washington at Portland that night instead.
Wolves' Week Ahead
Monday: 6 p.m. at Charlotte
Tuesday: 7 p.m. vs. San Ant.
Friday: 7 p.m. at Okla. City
All games on FSN
Player to watch: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
Drafted 16th overall in a 2011 draft in which the Wolves took Derrick Williams second, Leonard definitely is the best player on a great Spurs team and just maybe the NBA's best two-way player.
Voices
"They taught me how to be a man."
— New Timberwolves center Greg Smith, explaining how playing against six considerably older uncles defined his physical playing style when he was young.
