Wolves in Chicago: Defense wanted

Wolves coach/president Tom Thibodeau, GM Scott Layden and their scouting staff just completed the second and final day of player workouts at the NBA's annual draft class and although this is a very incomplete list of players they interviewed, you can tell a common theme:

Defense.

Their list included such mobile big men/rim protectors as UCLA's Ike Anigbogu, Kentucky's Edrice Adebayo as well as injured perimeter defender OG Anunoby from Indiana.

They also talked with offensive-minded and mobile big men such as Gonzaga's Zach Collins and UCLA's T.J. Leaf.

Collins could be a top 10 pick. The other all are middle first-round picks likely.

That means that the Wolves -- who are in the draft's 6th spot before Tuesday's lottery -- would have to trade down or acquire another first-round pick, unless they 'd take Collins sixth or seventh overall.

A young player who predicts he can become the league's best defender in a few years, Anunoby broke down some of his game film with Thibodeau and the Wolves' staff during meeting.

"A lot of it was about defense," Anunoby said.

Surprise, surprise.

Wolves staff will return home this weekend after combine players' physical are completed Saturday and then they'll begin the process of bringing players to Minneapolis for draft workouts, all held in utmost secrecy of course.

Anigbogu, for one, said he's uncertain whether he'll come for a workout yet.

Things will become clearer when the Wolves discover Tuesday night if they're lucky in the lottery. They've never done better than they should in their long lottery history.

None of the players they'd draft at No. 6 -- except for Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox and perhaps Collins -- attended the combine. Players such as Florida State's Jonathan Isaac, Duke's Jayson Tatum, Kentucky's Malik Monk and Arizona's Lauri Markkanen.