Labaron Philon Jr. Is Projected Top-20, And His Minnesota Workout Proves The Wolves Are Going Full Send On A Trade Up

Alright, Seattle, listen up, because what went down this weekend with the NBA Draft just blew the lid off everything! An Instagram story, posted Friday night, showed Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr. chilling in Minnesota. Now, for most guys, that'd be just another pre-draft visit, right? But Philon Jr. isn't just "most guys." He's currently projected as a top-20 pick, and the Timberwolves are sitting on the 28th overall pick. You kidding me? My jaw dropped when I saw that, and it sent the entire league into a frenzy of speculation. What in the world are the Wolves thinking, and what are they about to pull off?

Philon's Numbers Don't Lie: He's Not Lasting Until Pick 28

Let's be real, Philon Jr. absolutely torched it in his sophomore season at Alabama. He wasn't just good, he was *elite*. We're talking 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, all while shooting a ridiculous 50.1% from the field, 39.9% from three, and 79.8% from the free throw line. Those are lottery pick numbers, folks! He shot himself right into the conversation with the best in the class. Think about it: A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson are the top tier. Below them, a quartet of freshmen guards like Keaton Wagler and Darius Acuff Jr. are getting buzz. Philon Jr. makes a strong case to be in that next group, if not higher. ESPN has him at 18th overall, The Ringer says 14th, and The Athletic

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put him at 21st in their latest mock. So yeah, the idea of him falling to the Wolves' 28th pick? Not happening. Absolutely no chance.

The Wolves' Front Office Is About To Get AGGRESSIVE

This isn't just internet rumor. Wolves reporters Jon Krawczynski and Chris Hine both confirmed on Saturday that Philon Jr. is indeed in Minnesota for a pre-draft workout. Krawczynski flat out said on X, "I’ll just say it’s very notable that Philon agreed to visit Minnesota for a workout despite being projected much higher than 28." And Hine nailed it, pointing out this workout implies the Wolves are "canvassing their options" to move up in the draft. We've seen this movie before, haven't we? Back in the 2024 draft, Tim Connelly and the front office traded up to snag Rob Dillingham with the eighth overall pick. The Wolves were bounced in the Western Conference semifinals, and all offseason, the talk has been about adding a second star next to Anthony Edwards. A big jump up in the draft for a guy like Philon Jr., a 6-foot-4 point guard who can score at all three levels, would be a huge shocker to many, but it makes perfect sense. Less than a week until the draft, and you can bet the Wolves are cooking up something big. With impending free agents like Ayo Dosunmu, Mike Conley Jr., and Kyle Anderson, their backcourt could look very different. Philon Jr. would be an intriguing, high-upside talent to pair with Edwards. Keep your eyes glued to this one, because the Emerald City knows a team on the move when we see one. This draft just got spicy!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.