The 18th-Best Prospect Just Worked Out For Pick 28, And The NBA Draft Is About To Get WILD
Okay, seriously, did you guys see this?! Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard who absolutely EXPLODED last season, just threw the entire NBA Draft into chaos. An Instagram story on Friday night had him chilling in Minnesota, less than a week before the draft. Why's that a big deal? Because the dude is projected as a top-20 pick, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are currently holding the 28th overall spot. You do the math. This is a head-scratcher that has everyone talking!
Philon's Stock is Skyrocketing, So What Gives?!
Let's be clear: Philon isn't some late-round flyer. His sophomore season at Alabama was straight fire. He put up insane numbers: 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 deep, and 79.8% from the free-throw line. Those stats catapulted him right into the conversation for a potential lottery pick, for crying out loud!
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ESPN has him as the 18th-best prospect. The Ringer? They've got him even higher at No. 14. And The Athletic's latest mock draft still has him at 21st overall. This isn't a guy who should be anywhere near pick 28! We're talking about a prospect who's clearly in the next tier after the top guys like A.J. Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. So, why on earth is he working out for a team with such a late pick? It doesn't make sense, unless...
The Wolves Are Cooking Up Something CRAZY
Yep, it's confirmed. Wolves beat reporters Jon Krawczynski and Chris Hine both verified on Saturday that Philon is indeed in Minnesota for a pre-draft workout. And Krawczynski was quick to point out 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." Notable? That's an understatement!
Hine went further, suggesting that Philon's decision to show up implies Minnesota is "canvassing their options" to move up in the draft. Think about it: the last time their front office, led by Tim Connelly, traded up aggressively was in 2024 to snag Rob Dillingham with the eighth overall pick. The Wolves have been buzzing with offseason trade rumors, mostly about finding a second star to pair with Anthony Edwards. An aggressive trade-up for Philon, a 6-foot-4 point guard who can score at all three levels, would be a surprise, but it absolutely fits the narrative of them being ready to make a splash. With Ayo Dosunmu, Mike Conley Jr., and Kyle Anderson as impending free agents, they definitely have options to retool.
So, what does this all mean? The NBA Draft is just days away, and if Philon, a top-20 talent, is working out for pick 28, it screams that a big move is coming. Get ready, folks, because the draft board we thought we knew is about to be tossed right out the window! The suspense is killing me.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.