nbalogoMINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves have selected Providence point guard Kris Dunn with the fifth overall draft pick.
 
     The selection pairs the best defensive guard in the draft with defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota. Dunn said before the draft he wanted to play for Thibodeau and now it looks like he will get his wish.
 
     The selection calls into question the future of Ricky Rubio with Minnesota. Both players are point guards and the Wolves may decide to trade the veteran Rubio to make room for Dunn.
 
     The Wolves didn’t think Dunn would be available at Number 5, but Boston’s surprising selection of Jaylen Brown at number 3 opened the door.

 NEW YORK (AP) – The Philadelphia 76ers’ current rebuilding project now includes Ben Simmons.
 
     The Sixers have used the first pick in the NBA draft to select the LSU forward, who averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Tigers as a freshman last season.
 
     The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Simmons led the SEC in rebounding and was third in points before being named a consensus All-American. He joins a team that went a league-worst 10-72 last season, one off the NBA record for losses.
 
     Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram was the second player selected, grabbed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Ingram averaged 17 points a game and hit 41 percent of his 3-point attempts for the Blue Devils.
 
     Boston used the first of their eight draft picks to take California small forward Jaylen Brown, making it 3-for-3 on freshmen selections in the draft. Brown scored 14.6 points a game for the Bears.
 
     Phoenix went the international route with the fourth choice, getting seven-foot power forward Dragan Bender. The Croatian-born Bender spent last season playing in the Israeli Winner League, the Euroleague and Eurocup for Maccabi Tel Aviv.