Potential Warriors draft target James Wiseman said Monday he didn't work out for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but could the holders of the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday's NBA draft still be interested in the former Memphis big man?
Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas didn't explicitly say "yes" in an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols on "The Jump" on Tuesday, but what he did say left more than enough room to interpret it that way. Rosas said Minnesota wouldn't be deterred by the fact that some of the draft's top prospects play the same positions as point guard D'Angelo Russell and center Karl-Anthony Towns, specifically citing Towns' skill set as a reason why.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE "His versatility allows us to add another big at that spot," Rosas said of Towns, "Especially if it's a guy that can complement him with athleticism and a guy that can be more of a defender, more of a runner and roller [on offense]."
Download and subscribe to the Dubs Talk Podcast
Wiseman, 19, fits that mold, and if he really is the Warriors' preferred option with the No. 2 selection as has been speculated, then the Timberwolves' own interest in the big man could potentially throw a wrench in Golden State's draft-night plans.
Golden State Warriors
Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
I say "potentially" because just about everything said publicly by an executive, or privately by sources, should be taken with a gigantic grain of salt before draft night. It's in Rosas and the Timberwolves' interest to keep the teams below them guessing in order to maximize their leverage with the top pick. To that end, Rosas didn't rule out Minnesota trading the selection.
"We're very open [to moving it]," Rosas told Nichols. "We're having open conversations now. It's why we want to use every minute at our disposal. In terms of the draft, our boards are set. Now, it's just a matter of scenarios and conversations leading up to 8:05 [p.m. ET on Wednesday] when we make that selection or when we trade the pick."
RELATED: Warriors getting 'lot of calls' regarding traded player exception
Bob Myers, the Warriors' general manager and president of basketball operations, told reporters last week that Golden State wouldn't finalize its plans until absolutely necessary. Rosas' caginess shows that's a wise approach, as the Warriors can't really make a decision until the Timberwolves make theirs.
Until they do, the waiting game continues.