Timberwolves begin NBA draft's second day with trades, then add Australian center Rocco Zikarsky

Chris Hine, Star Tribune on Jun 26, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves didn’t make any trades on night one of the NBA draft. But entering night two Thursday, President Tim Connelly struck a few deals.

The Wolves entered the second night with the first pick, No. 31 overall, then made a trade with the Phoenix Suns for No. 36, giving up No. 31 and gaining two future second-round picks. Those picks are a 2026 pick (the less favorable of Denver or Golden State’s second-round picks) and a 2032 pick (the more favorable of Phoenix’s or Houston’s).

But Connelly wasn’t done there. With the Wolves on the clock at No. 36, he swung a trade with the Lakers for the No. 45 pick and cash, a source confirmed.

Then the Wolves selected Australian center Rocco Zikarsky with the 45th pick. Zikarsky is 7-foot-2, according to his NBA.com draft profile. Like the Wolves’ first-round pick, Joan Beringer, he’s still 18 and is likely a development project at center. His strengths include ability to finish on lobs and good shooting touch that could develop over time. Some things he may need to work on include his post-up game, improving his mobility and fouling at a lower rate.

This is now the fourth draft of four in Connelly’s tenure with the Timberwolves that he has made some sort of trade in the draft.

On Wednesday night, the Wolves stood pat at No. 17 and took French center Beringer, a defensive-oriented center who figures to be a long-term development prospect. Beringer didn’t begin playing basketball seriously until around four years ago but impressed the Wolves with his ability to guard multiple positions and defend the rim.

“He’s already a functional basket-protection vehicle, which is critical,” Wolves general manager Matt Lloyd said. “We think, based on some of the stuff we saw that he wasn’t able to do during the season in Slovenia, he’s going to have switchability. He’s just such a physical presence with his size and his length. He’ll be able to swallow up guys in switches. That’s a really exciting thing.”