NBA Mock Draft: Minnesota Timberwolves Select Chuma Okeke from Auburn

NBA Mock Draft Pick #23 - Chuma Okeke, Forward, Auburn

SB Nation’s Minnesota Timberwolves blog Canis Hoopus explains the pick:

We think Chuma Okeke is a lottery talent, something we couldn’t pass up at this point in the draft. We will not rush his return from ACL surgery, and are prepared to sit him out for the entire season if that is the advice of our medical personnel. We think he’ll be worth it. We love his defensive abilities, and think he’ll be able to effectively switch several positions. His balanced offensive skill set also appeals to us. He should be able to stretch the floor effectively, crash the offensive boards, and eventually we think he’ll be able to do some attacking off the dribble.

The trade is: The Wolves trade Andrew Wiggins and Dario Saric for Jae Crowder, Dante Exum, Kyle Korver, and pick #23. A no brainer from the Wolves perspective, we were able to jettison our most onerous contract and get back a pick as well as some useful players. Saric will be missed, we hated to part with him, but that’s the cost of doing business. The Jazz were eager to acquire Saric. This trade gives us more financial flexibility this summer as well as in years to come. We like Jae Crowder very much, and have a year to see how he fits with what we are trying to do. We would love to convince Korver to come back for his final year and help us, but we’ll see about that. If not, it gives us further flexibility. And we will give Dante Exum, the only player we acquired who is under contract beyond this upcoming season, every chance to stay healthy and turn those flashes of his upside into consistent play in the back court.

These are the terms of the trade in our Blogger Mock Draft between the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves:
Jazz receive: Andrew Wiggins, Dario Saric
Timberwolves receive: Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, Dante Exum, 23rd Pick