The Minnesota Timberwolves have an opportunity to add a top prospect in the NBA Draft.
After finishing as the Western Conference Finalists for the past two seasons in a row, the Minnesota Timberwolves are attempting to figure out how to take the next step.
The next part in their retooling process is the NBA Draft, where the Timberwolves hold the number 17 overall pick, which previously belonged to the Detroit Pistons.
Minnesota also holds the opening pick in the second round at number 31, originally belonging to the Jazz.
So with two top 31 picks, the Timberwolves have been bringing in talent for workouts. HoopsHype’s tracker counts 20 players to have visited Minnesota. Below we have profiled the top three ranked players to visit.
Nique Clifford
- Age: 23
- College: Colorado
- Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
- Height: 6ft 6″
- Nationality: USA
Nique Clifford has five college seasons under his belt and could make an immediate impact in the NBA. He averaged 17.5 points per game at the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Our NBA comparison for Clifford is Josh Hart, with the talented wing able to do a little bit of everything and impact games positively.
After he scored a career-high 36 points in the Mountain West Tournament earlier this year, head coach Leon Rice told SI: “He’s a special player. A lot of those shots were tough ones, and he was making them. He just wouldn’t miss.”
Asa Newell
- Age: 19
- College: Georgia
- Position: Power Forward
- Height: 6ft 11″
- Nationality: USA
Asa Newell believes he can make a big impact to the team that drafts him, and has been busy trying to showcase it to teams in workouts. He was the first freshman to lead the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding since 1997-98.
He told USA Today: “I’m a floor spacer. I can run the floor like a gazelle. I can knock down the 3-point shot and guard on both sides of the floor.
“I’m getting stronger every single day in the weight room, and just my athletic ability on both sides of the ball. I think that my overall frame can fill out in the league.”
Noah Penda
- Age: 20
- College: Le Mans Sarthe Basket
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6ft 8″
- Nationality: France
Another talented French prospect is heading to the NBA, Noah Penda is a player worth getting excited about.
Kevin O’Connor tells Yahoo: “He is a glorious passer who seemingly has vision of every player on the floor and the ability to make any pass.”
He also praises his defensive ability, adding: “Penda plays with a veteran’s mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense, and high-level feel.”
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