The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Josh Minott in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, but could we look back in 10 years and see he was the steal of the draft?

Let’s start by saying this is extremely premature to talk about, but it’s a fun conversation to have. He’s logged a total of 15 minutes with the Timberwolves in six games. There’s no denying his talent, and he could be a good two-way player when it’s all said and done.

Minott was selected in the second round because of a lack of exposure and his inability to stretch the floor at the University of Memphis. He played one season there and only started in five games, averaging 14.6 minutes per game.

If you look at his stats, you’d be wondering what’s so special about him. Last season at Memphis, he averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists.

However, he’s 6-foot-8 and has a near seven-foot wingspan. He does need to add some more strength, as he’s only 205 pounds. That will come with time, but he’s uber-athletic and reminds fans of where Jaden McDaniels was in his rookie year.

McDaniels didn’t get much playing time during his rookie season and was deemed a project pick. He eventually got minutes because of injuries/Covid, and he never looked back. That remains in the back of fans’ heads with Minott.

In limited action at Memphis, he nearly averaged one steal and block per game. He’s been ballin’ for the Iowa Wolves, and it’s only increased fans’ approval rating.

He needs to continue to develop his offensive game, as he didn’t shoot the ball well from 3 in college, but it’s looked better than expected in Iowa (41.2 percent on 3.1 attempts). He’s uber-athletic and will have a lot of success driving to the rim.

This season in 11 games, he’s averaging 17.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocks on 52.0 percent from the field.

John Hollinger of The Athletic ranked him No. 10 on his NBA Draft big board, which was surprising to say the very least. That was very high for a guy who played 14 minutes a game and averaged six points in college.

His personality is infectious, and he’s already becoming a fan favorite like Luka Garza and Naz Reid.

Hopefully, he can get some run because he has the talent to be special in the NBA. The Timberwolves have him collecting dust on the bench, and surprisingly, they haven’t thrown him out there for five minutes to see if he can create a spark.

It’s very early to talk about, but it’s a fun topic to discuss. If he continues to develop and play at a high level, then we could be looking back in 10 years and saying Minott was the steal of the draft.