Chart: Elite defenders

The Wolves believe rookie Andrew Wiggins can become a shut-down perimeter defender. Here's a look through the years at some of the NBA's all-time great wing defenders:

1. LeBron James, Cleveland Best player alive at both ends of the floor; oddly, he never has won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

2. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers Past his prime now, but he's tied with Michael Jordan, Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett for most All-Defensive team honors with nine.

3. Scottie Pippen, Chicago Small-college player became big-time NBA defender and title winner alongside Jordan, who easily could be on this list, too. The NBA playoffs' all-time steals leader, could defend practically any position.

4. Dennis Rodman, Detroit He certainly was no two-way player, but a tenacious, if often dirty, defending specialist for Deroit's "Bad Boys" and a relentless rebounder, too.

5. Michael Cooper, L.A. Lakers Skinny, skilled and an underrated contributor to the great 1980s Lakers teams, was a terror defending near the three-point line and won the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year award.