There are two Washington Huskies hoping to be selected in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft. While neither Terrence Ross nor Tony Wroten look like lottery picks, it does seem that Ross is a lock for the first 30 picks, and that Wroten will really have to struggle in his workouts to drop into the second round.
The latest mock draft from Yahoo! Sports and Draft Express has Ross falling to No. 18 and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After eight straight years of missing the playoffs, and with general manager David Kahn entering the final year of his contract, Minnesota will need to make some moves this summer to improve its roster and finally break its postseason drought. The Timberwolves are especially weak at the wing positions, where they could use some additional scoring to take the heat off Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.
Terrence Ross has excellent size for the wing at 6-foot-7 and a picture-perfect stroke to go along with it. His athleticism would make him a favorite for lob passes from the likes of both Love and Rubio, making this a no-brainer selection if he happens to fall this far.
Tony Wroten is headed to the Golden State Warriors with the 30th pick, according to the mock.
With four draft picks at their disposal, the Warriors can afford to swing for the fences this late in the first round. Washington freshman Tony Wroten has the size, ball-handling skills and instincts to develop into a real asset down the road. Having a former point guard in head coach Mark Jackson to mentor him could speed up his development. Given Wroten's excellent size, the Warriors could find a way to play him and Stephen Curry together at times.
The 2012 NBA Draft is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 28.
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