Timberwolves Select Illinois Star Terrence Shannon Jr. at No. 27 Overall

Following the splashy trade to move up to No. 8 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft in order to select microwave scorer Rob Dillingham out of Kentucky, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and his staff round out an incredibly impressive Round 1 by drafting Illinois star wing Terrence Shannon Jr. with the 27th overall pick.

Trading up for Dillingham means the Wolves issue an even more expensive luxury tax bill, which could further hamper what they do in free agency this summer. After finding their potential point guard for the future, names such as Baylor Scheierman floated around as a target at No. 27 with the potential unlikelihood of bringing back Kyle Anderson. However, Minnesota made a selection that can possibly impact winning right away but, based on the depth chart, is also geared toward the future in Shannon Jr., a hyperathletic slasher who should be a good NBA scorer if his 3-point shot continues to progress.

Shannon, 23, spent five years playing at a collegiate level. He began with Texas Tech in 2019, where he spent three seasons, averaging 11 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 45.6% from the floor (8.0 attempts) and 35.1% from beyond the arc (2.5 attempts). In 2022, Terrence transferred to Illinois, where he’s been for the last two years. He had a breakout 2023-24 campaign with the Fighting Illini, registering 23 points, four rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 47.5% from the floor (14.4 attempts) and 36.2% from range (6.7 attempts) over 31 games.

The 6-foot-5 guard excels when putting his head down and attacking the basket, but he doesn’t necessarily need the ball in his hands to be effective. Off-ball movement is also a strength for Terrence, an area where he uses his high-level athleticism to find success.

Additionally, the Chicago native is a pesky and physical defender, which is always a sought-after skill coming out of the draft. He thrives in transition by pushing the pace, which is a good compliment to being a productive perimeter defender.

The Ringer compares Shannon’s game to Tyreke Evens, a productive scorer with a reliable 3-point shot throughout his 10-year NBA career.

Shannon may not be the floor spacing forward that some fans were hoping for, but the upside is there, even if he isn’t a rotational piece right away. Connelly and his staff selected two guards in what was a productive first round. Dillingham has the potential to impact winning right away with his offense, while Shannon, equipped with raw defensive chops and excellent rim-running tendencies, can possibly give the Wolves plug-and-play minutes next season but will also continue to develop his offensive game, particularly from range.

Overall, Wolves fans should go to bed happy with what their team pulled off tonight. And tomorrow, we get to do it all over again, with Minnesota currently owning the 37th pick. The second round will start at 3:00 PM CT. Streaming will be available on ESPN.