This is the first of a two-part series predicting how the Timberwolves will use their bench players.
Much has been made about the Minnesota Timberwolves’ acquisition of Rudy Gobert. Questions linger about his potential fit and what it means for the starting lineup next to Karl-Anthony Towns. It is a curious proposition, going big when the rest of the league seems to be going small. However, the Wolves are determined to make opposing starting lineups conform to their physicality.
It will also be interesting to watch how Chris Finch configures his bench rotation to complement the starters. It will be a great deal of new territory for the Wolves, as the team sent out many valuable rotation players to snag Gobert. Finch will still have some familiar faces on the bench, but this season will usher in entirely new rotations. Finch must consider all angles and options to determine what role each of these bench players will play in the bench rotation. In years past, this has been more clear-cut:
- He deployed Josh Okogie as a disruptor
- Malik Beasley shot threes
- Naz Reid was center relief
- And Jaden McDaniels was a defensive superstar, to name a few
Many of those players are gone heading into the 2022-23 season, though. McDaniels is also a likely starter, and Reid finds himself as the third option at center, barring a positional change. Finch will have to reach deep into his bag of tricks to figure out what exactly he wants every player to accomplish during their time on the court. There is little doubt that he’s worked extremely closely with Tim Connelly during this entire process, so Finch likely has a pretty good idea of where to plug in each player.
With most of the attention going to the starting rotation and roles this offseason, it seems pertinent to examine these bench players to see exactly what they will give the team.
The Initiator: Jordan McLaughlin
One of Gersson Rosas’s biggest gambles was betting on McLaughlin’s talent and affordability over the prospect of giving Tyus Jones a hefty contract, but it has paid off for Minnesota. McLaughlin has been streaky at times, but he has excelled and has never shied away from big moments as the 3rd point guard. He’s creative, reads the floor well, makes plays for his teammates, and isn’t afraid to take his shot when it’s there.
We’re not too far removed from McLaughlin getting crunchtime minutes over D’Angelo Russell with the season on the line in the playoffs. This season, JMac steps up as the 2nd point guard behind Russell after Beverley’s departure. Finch is a big believer in JMac, and this season he will have a chance to build upon his successes. The Wolves will expect McLaughlin to get the bench unit rolling, and that will be his job until proven otherwise.
The Shooter: Bryn Forbes
With Beasley heading to Utah, the Timberwolves bench was sorely lacking in three-point shooting outside of Taurean Prince. That prompted the team to sign the veteran Forbes. He comes over on a team-friendly deal as he fills out a roster looking increasingly likely to contend for a top spot in the Western Conference.
Forbes is about as tried and true of a shooter as the Wolves will find. In 75 games between the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets last season, Forbes shot just over 41% from 3, a near-4% improvement from the 37.7% 3-point shooting that Beasley provided Minnesota last season. Per Cleaning the Glass, Forbes ranked in the 100th percentile on corner three percentage while in Denver last season (64%).
Forbes was a vital component of the Milwaukee Bucks’ magical title run two years ago, shooting 45% from three that season! Defensive liabilities notwithstanding, Forbes will provide valuable playoff experience for this ascending Timberwolves team. He is also sure to be less streaky than Beasley, and the Wolves will welcome bench consistency and shooting with open arms.
The Scorer: Jaylen Nowell
It’s Nowell’s time, baby.
Beasley’s departure, paired with the addition of Forbes, will allow Nowell to be the primary scoring option for any lineup composed solely of bench players. Forbes will almost assuredly be a better shooter than Beasley, so Nowell will not have to be as reliant on his outside shooting to make his presence known.
Though this is an area where Nowell quietly outperformed Beasley last season. Per Cleaning the Glass, which filters out garbage-time statistics, Nowell shot 42% (58/137) from 3 last season, good for the 88th percentile in the league. Using the same metrics, Beasley shot only 38%. Still better than league average, but it was clear the team was hemorrhaging points when playing Beasley over Nowell. The on/off stats between the two players last season tell a similar story. In Points per Possession, Effective FG%, Turnover %, and Free Throw Rate, the Timberwolves ranked in the 83rd percentile or better with Nowell on the floor. On the other hand, Beasley did not surpass the 50th percentile on any of those metrics while getting minutes.
Nowell also has a much deeper bag than Beasley and has showcased the ability to score at all three levels. That versatility is why Connelly was so keen on bringing Nowell back and giving him an increased role this season. His paltry 8.5 points per game last season do not tell the full story of how talented he is. Expect a sizable jump from Nowell this season as he steps into a more prominent spot.
The Rook: Wendell Moore Jr.
Finch probably will not play Moore much, if at all, in the early throes of the season. The reality is that this is one of the deepest Timberwolves teams ever assembled, and the days of playing unproven rookies early on may be over. Moore has a role on this team as the most NBA-ready rookie on the roster, though his time may not come until injuries or other extraneous factors dictate otherwise. His upside is enticing, though. He will be a player to watch in the future.
