The depth of guards in the 2026 NBA Draft class has given Labaron Philon a wide range of possibilities on draft night. While he will undoubtedly hear his name called on Tuesday during the first round, where and when exactly that will happen is very much up in the air just over 24 hours before things kick off.
Philon is definitely a lottery talent, but there are only 14 lottery picks and a whole bunch of competition to be among them. It's impossible to know which teams favor which guards in this class, which gives Philon a range from the lottery all the way into the 20s.
A recent workout with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which currently holds pick No. 28 in the first round, has some speculating that Philon could be in for a draft night fall. But the more realistic scenario is that the Wolves are eyeing a move up on draft night to land Philon, as noted by Dunking with Wolves contributor Kenny Kluska.
Labaron Philon could be a perfect fit next to Anthony Edwards with the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have been eyeing a backcourt mate of the future next to superstar Anthony Edwards. They made a bold - albeit ill-fated - move in the 2024 draft to move up to acquire Kentucky's Rob Dillingham.
That move didn't work out, and the Wolves quickly realized that mistake and traded Dillingham to the Chicago Bulls at the deadline this past season. They acquired Ayo Dosunmu in that trade, but they are still looking for a lead guard who can alleviate some of the playmaking responsibilties from Edwards.
Philon's growth as a shooter at Alabama makes him an even more intriguing fit. Edwards is going to spend a significant amount of time on the ball, so finding someone who can knock down catch-and-shoot threes and punish doubles/close-outs like Philon can would be a dream for the Wolves' organization.
Philon shot 39.9% from three as a sophomore with the Crimson Tide, which significantly raised his draft stock.
Philon will attend the NBA Draft on Tuesday night in Brooklyn. When he hears his name called, he'll be the first Alabama player to be drafted since Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney went in the first round of the 2023 draft.
Where Philon ends up is still a mystery, but his late workout with the Timberwolves certainly signals some significant interest on Minnesota's side. The question will be how much they are willing to pay to move up in a spot where they can acquire the Alabama star.
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