Creighton's Baylor Scheierman Is A Perfect Fit Late In the First For the Wolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the 27th and 37th picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, giving the front office a wide range of prospects to focus on. While this draft does not have as much star power as years past, their picks land in the 20 to 40 range, which is full of potential role-player contributors.

Minnesota has wasted no time since the Dallas Mavericks eliminated them in the Western Conference Finals, jumping right into prospects workouts. Per Timberwolves PR, they have reportedly brought in 18 players over the past two weeks, including Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman.

Scheierman will be 24 years old when the 2024-25 season begins. However, that comes with benefits because he is one of the most experienced players in the 2024 Draft. He played five years of college basketball, 162 games in total, starting in every game in his final four seasons.

South Dakota State was the only Division I program to offer Scheierman out of high school in Aurora, Nebraksa, and he was an impact player at the mid-major level in his first 3 seasons, opening up even more opportunities.

Teams across the nation coveted Scheierman when he entered the transfer portal after his junior season. However, he decided to head back to Nebraska, spending his final two seasons of eligibility at Creighton. He didn’t skip a beat moving to a more competitive league and schedule, continuing to showcase his upward trajectory at the high-major level.

Finishing his collegiate career with impressive statistical averages.

Physically, Scheierman has intriguing size, measuring  6’6.25” without shoes, with a wingspan of 6’8.25” at the 2024 NBA Combine. He already has positional and role versatility off his measurables alone, but also making up for some of his athletic deficiencies.

Scheierman posted a high 23.4% Usage Rate in his two seasons at Creighton. They frequently used him on the ball as a secondary ball-handler. However, he likely will see much different usage when it comes to the NBA. Role changes are fairly normal with non-lottery prospects. Players often change their fit as their careers continue. However, Scheierman years of experience and knowledge of how to contribute to winning basketball gives him a head up on his prospect competition

While he will be changing his role slightly, Scheierman is still very projectable. His abilities to play off the ball in the NBA will come deservingly due to his flamethrower shooting from three. He’s already showcasing notable efficiency in possessions off the ball in his fifth year.

Scheierman’s three-point volume gives his efficiency a larger boost of significance. He’s attempting 8.3 three-point jumpers per game in his fifth year. His 289 total three-point attempts ranked 10th in the nation and was tied for third for high-major players. He often takes multiple shot attempts, whether that is catch-and-shoot, on and off-the-ball movement shots, or relocation threes – showcasing even more versatility.

While Scheierman has impressive size, he’s still developing his ability to get to the rim effectively. Scheierman’s lack of leaping ability and quick first step limited him to only being aggressive downhill if the paint was open or if there was not a big around the rim. Opponents often pushed him off balance when he attempted contested drives around traffic or had to take tough falling hook shots. Making his rim pressure an improvement area as he goes to the next level.

Despite these shortcomings, Scheierman found ways around this rim finishing issue. Showcasing a patented turnaround pivot mid-range jumper. A shot he turned to frequently when he had his defender at his hip or occasionally put his defender in jail on his back.

Scheierman’s mid-range turnaround could be vital to his projected success off the dribble as a creator or when he needs to attack a closeout. In the NBA, opponents will likley force Scheierman off the three-point line into a range where he is less comfortable. Therefore, that secondary trait will be important if he wants to be more than a three-point shooter.

However, the most important secondary trait that Scheierman can showcase to help make up for any shortcomings is his on-ball passing ability. He’s already comfortable as a ball handler, holding secondary ball-handler duties at Creighton and some lead guard duties at SDSU. Overall, he posted a career 20% AST%.

These flashes could also translate to his off-ball role as a connecting piece, making a quick read for the next pass or driving and kicking to keep the offense flowing.

Scheierman’s plug-and-play offensive potential could be his biggest selling point for Minnesota. The Wolves could really use his shooting, but another contributor on an inexpensive rookie contract would help ease their second-apron salary cap situation. Minnesota’s flow offense has had quite a hole in it without many movement shooter options ever since Malik Beasley’s departure as a part of the Rudy Gobert trade.

While Scheierman isn’t the elite shooter that Malik was, his more in-depth play style alongside his great shooting could be the instant impact help they need off their bench. Giving Anthony Edwards and the offense more kick-out options, more size, and excellent experience. Every team can benefit from unselfish team play from its role players. Not many 2024 prospects bring the unique mix of experience and a projectable NBA role as Scheierman does.