Outside of Karl-Anthony Towns and Taj Gibson, the Wolves’ frontcourt depth is lacking. Bates-Diop is somebody who can step in and contribute immediately off the bench.
Bates-Diop spent most of his collegiate career as a fringe second round prospect. This year, however, he broke out, leading the Buckeyes to an unexpected NCAA Tournmanet run. He was one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the country, causing problems aplenty for bigger power forwards.
Expect Bates-Diop to find similar success in the NBA, exploiting whatever mismatches come his was as a stretch four. He’s a crafty isolation scorer who can space the floor, while his length gives him solid defensive tools as well.