Before each draft, an
NBA draft lottery determines the first round selection order for the teams that did not make the
playoffs during the prior season.[1] Teams can also trade their picks, which means that a team could have more than or less than two picks in one draft. As a result of the various trades, the Minnesota Timberwolves had four draft picks in
1992 and
2006. The Timberwolves drafted
Pooh Richardson with their first ever draft pick, tenth overall, in the
1989 NBA draft. In
1995, the Timberwolves picked
Kevin Garnett fifth overall, who went on to be a 15-time
All-Star.[2] In
1996, the Timberwolves drafted
Ray Allen fifth overall but was traded to the
Milwaukee Bucks with a future first-round pick for the draft rights of
Stephon Marbury.[3] In the
2008 NBA draft, the Timberwolves drafted
O. J. Mayo third overall but was traded to the
Memphis Grizzlies along with three other players from the Timberwolves for the draft rights to
Kevin Love along with three other players from the Grizzlies.[4] The Timberwolves have landed the
first overall pick twice in franchise history, selecting
Karl-Anthony Towns in the
2015 NBA draft and
Anthony Edwards in the
2020 NBA draft.
a The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired a second-round draft pick (Gary Leonard) from the Milwaukee Bucks for agreeing to select Mark Davis in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft.[5]
b The Minnesota Timberwolves trade
Rick Mahorn to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 1990 first-round (Gerald Glass) and a second-round draft pick, a 1991 second-round draft pick and a conditional 1992 second-round draft pick.[5]
c The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Brad Lohaus to the Milwaukee Bucks for
Randy Breuer and a conditional one-time exchange of a second-round draft pick in 1992 (Chris Smith).[5]
d The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Tyrone Corbin to the Utah Jazz for
Thurl Bailey and a 1992 second-round draft pick (Tim Burroughs).[5]
f The Milwaukee Bucks traded the draft rights of
Stephon Marbury to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Ray Allen and a future first-round pick.[3]
g The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Isaiah Rider to the Portland Trail Blazers for
James Robinson,
Bill Curley and a first-round draft pick in 1997 or 1998 (became the 20th pick in the 1997 draft on June 23, 1997) (Paul Grant).[5]
h The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Stephon Marbury,
Chris Carr and
Bill Curley to the New Jersey Nets and
Paul Grant to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal. The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired
Terrell Brandon from the Milwaukee Bucks, and
Brian Evans and future considerations from the Nets (turned out to be first-round draft pickin 1999 NBA Draft) (Wally Szczcerbiak).[5]
i The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired the draft rights to
Randy Foye from the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Brandon Roy.[6]
j 12 The Philadelphia 76ers acquired the draft rights to Bobby Jones from the Minnesota Timberwolves for a future second-round pick (Chris Richard) and cash considerations.[6]
k The Phoenix Suns acquired
Nikoloz Tskitishvili from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a 2006 second-round draft pick (Loukas Mavrokefalidis).[7]
m The Minnesota Timberwolves received a second-round draft pick (Nikola Peković) from the Miami Heat in a trade involving
Antoine Walker via the Boston Celtics in a trade involving
Ricky Davis.[8][9]
n The Miami Heat acquired the draft rights to Mario Chalmers from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for two future second-round picks and cash considerations.[4]
p On October 24, 2007, Minnesota acquired a 2009 first-round draft pick,
Antoine Walker,
Wayne Simien,
Michael Doleac and cash considerations from
Miami in exchange for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.[11] Minnesota used the 18th pick to draft
Ty Lawson.
rs On June 26, 2008, Minnesota acquired
Philadelphia's and Miami's 2009 second-round draft picks and cash considerations from Miami in exchange for the draft rights to
Mario Chalmers.[14] Previously, Miami acquired a 2009 second-round draft pick, the draft rights to
Daequan Cook and cash considerations on June 28, 2007, from Philadelphia in exchange for the draft rights to
Jason Smith.[15] Minnesota used the 45th and 47th pick to draft
Nick Calathes and
Henk Norel respectively. Later, on June 26, 2009. the Dallas Mavericks acquired the draft rights to 45th pick Nick Calathes from Minnesota in exchange for a 2010 second-round draft pick and cash considerations.[16]
ad On June 22, 2017, Chicago acquired Minnesota's first round pick (No. 7),
Kris Dunn, and
Zach LaVine from Minnesota for
Jimmy Butler and Chicago's first round pick (No. 16)[28]
ae On June 30, 2017, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired the
Utah Jazz's 2018 first round pick (the 20th pick) in exchange for
Ricky Rubio.[29]
Before each draft, an
NBA draft lottery determines the first round selection order for the teams that did not make the
playoffs during the prior season.[1] Teams can also trade their picks, which means that a team could have more than or less than two picks in one draft. As a result of the various trades, the Minnesota Timberwolves had four draft picks in
1992 and
2006. The Timberwolves drafted
Pooh Richardson with their first ever draft pick, tenth overall, in the
1989 NBA draft. In
1995, the Timberwolves picked
Kevin Garnett fifth overall, who went on to be a 15-time
All-Star.[2] In
1996, the Timberwolves drafted
Ray Allen fifth overall but was traded to the
Milwaukee Bucks with a future first-round pick for the draft rights of
Stephon Marbury.[3] In the
2008 NBA draft, the Timberwolves drafted
O. J. Mayo third overall but was traded to the
Memphis Grizzlies along with three other players from the Timberwolves for the draft rights to
Kevin Love along with three other players from the Grizzlies.[4] The Timberwolves have landed the
first overall pick twice in franchise history, selecting
Karl-Anthony Towns in the
2015 NBA draft and
Anthony Edwards in the
2020 NBA draft.
a The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired a second-round draft pick (Gary Leonard) from the Milwaukee Bucks for agreeing to select Mark Davis in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft.[5]
b The Minnesota Timberwolves trade
Rick Mahorn to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 1990 first-round (Gerald Glass) and a second-round draft pick, a 1991 second-round draft pick and a conditional 1992 second-round draft pick.[5]
c The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Brad Lohaus to the Milwaukee Bucks for
Randy Breuer and a conditional one-time exchange of a second-round draft pick in 1992 (Chris Smith).[5]
d The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Tyrone Corbin to the Utah Jazz for
Thurl Bailey and a 1992 second-round draft pick (Tim Burroughs).[5]
f The Milwaukee Bucks traded the draft rights of
Stephon Marbury to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Ray Allen and a future first-round pick.[3]
g The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Isaiah Rider to the Portland Trail Blazers for
James Robinson,
Bill Curley and a first-round draft pick in 1997 or 1998 (became the 20th pick in the 1997 draft on June 23, 1997) (Paul Grant).[5]
h The Minnesota Timberwolves traded
Stephon Marbury,
Chris Carr and
Bill Curley to the New Jersey Nets and
Paul Grant to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal. The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired
Terrell Brandon from the Milwaukee Bucks, and
Brian Evans and future considerations from the Nets (turned out to be first-round draft pickin 1999 NBA Draft) (Wally Szczcerbiak).[5]
i The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired the draft rights to
Randy Foye from the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Brandon Roy.[6]
j 12 The Philadelphia 76ers acquired the draft rights to Bobby Jones from the Minnesota Timberwolves for a future second-round pick (Chris Richard) and cash considerations.[6]
k The Phoenix Suns acquired
Nikoloz Tskitishvili from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a 2006 second-round draft pick (Loukas Mavrokefalidis).[7]
m The Minnesota Timberwolves received a second-round draft pick (Nikola Peković) from the Miami Heat in a trade involving
Antoine Walker via the Boston Celtics in a trade involving
Ricky Davis.[8][9]
n The Miami Heat acquired the draft rights to Mario Chalmers from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for two future second-round picks and cash considerations.[4]
p On October 24, 2007, Minnesota acquired a 2009 first-round draft pick,
Antoine Walker,
Wayne Simien,
Michael Doleac and cash considerations from
Miami in exchange for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.[11] Minnesota used the 18th pick to draft
Ty Lawson.
rs On June 26, 2008, Minnesota acquired
Philadelphia's and Miami's 2009 second-round draft picks and cash considerations from Miami in exchange for the draft rights to
Mario Chalmers.[14] Previously, Miami acquired a 2009 second-round draft pick, the draft rights to
Daequan Cook and cash considerations on June 28, 2007, from Philadelphia in exchange for the draft rights to
Jason Smith.[15] Minnesota used the 45th and 47th pick to draft
Nick Calathes and
Henk Norel respectively. Later, on June 26, 2009. the Dallas Mavericks acquired the draft rights to 45th pick Nick Calathes from Minnesota in exchange for a 2010 second-round draft pick and cash considerations.[16]
ad On June 22, 2017, Chicago acquired Minnesota's first round pick (No. 7),
Kris Dunn, and
Zach LaVine from Minnesota for
Jimmy Butler and Chicago's first round pick (No. 16)[28]
ae On June 30, 2017, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired the
Utah Jazz's 2018 first round pick (the 20th pick) in exchange for
Ricky Rubio.[29]