Following the spectacular trade that landed them at No. 8 in the 2024 NBA Draft and gave them the opportunity to select microwave scorer Rob Dillingham from Kentucky, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly and his team round out an incredibly impressive first round by drafting star winger Terrence Shannon Jr. from Illinois with the 27th pick overall.

The Dillingham trade means an even higher luxury tax for the Wolves, which could further hamper their free-agent activity this summer. After finding their potential point guard for the future, names like Baylor Scheierman were floated as a target for No. 27, with Kyle Anderson unlikely to be brought back. However, Minnesota did make a selection that could potentially have an immediate impact on winning but is also geared toward the future based on the roster: Shannon Jr., a hyper-athletic slasher who should be a good NBA scorer if his 3-point shooting continues to perform well.

Shannon, 23, played for five years at the college level. He started at Texas Tech in 2019, where he spent three seasons, averaging 11 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 45.6% from the field (8.0 attempts) and 35.1% from beyond the arc (2.5 attempts). In 2022, Terrence transferred to Illinois, where he spent the final two years. He had a breakout 2023-24 season with the Fighting Illini, recording 23 points, four rebounds and 2.2 assists on 47.5% from the field (14.4 attempts) and 36.2% from beyond the arc (6.7 attempts) in 31 games.

The 6'5″ guard excels at keeping his head down and attacking the basket, but he doesn't necessarily need the ball in his hands to be effective. Movement without the ball is also a strength of Terrence's, an area where he uses his high level of athleticism to succeed.

Additionally, the Chicago native is a tenacious and physical defender, which is always a sought-after skill in draft players. He thrives in transition by pushing the pace, which is a nice complement to his role as a productive perimeter defender.

The Ringer compares Shannon's game to that of Tyreke Evens, a prolific scorer with a reliable 3-point shot throughout his entire 10-year NBA career.

Shannon may not be the forward some fans were hoping for, but he has potential even if he's not in the rotation right away. Connelly and his team selected two guards in the first round. Dillingham has the potential to lead his offense to wins right away, while Shannon, armed with raw defensive skills and excellent rim-running tendencies, can potentially give the Wolves plug-and-play minutes next season but will also continue to develop his offensive game, especially from distance.

Overall, Wolves fans should be happy with what their team did tonight. And we can do it all again tomorrow, with Minnesota currently holding the 37th pick. The second round begins at 3 p.m. CT. Streaming will be available on ESPN.