Other than a poor performance vs. the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, the Minnesota Timberwolves capped off what was an all and all great preseason run, going 4-1. The preseason may not mean anything substantial, with teams emptying their benches after halftime, but there are few takeaways. However, going 4-1 is much more positive than going 1-4, as the preseason is where confidence grows within the team. With the off-season the Timberwolves undertook, confidence is vital early in the season.
With the preseason coming to a close as the 2022-23 season draws near, the real work starts for Chris Finch and Minnesota’s coaching staff as they try and sort through what is looking like an exceptionally deep Timberwolves squad.
Tim Connelly made his finishing touches on the roster Saturday, locking the squad down for opening night against the Oklahoma City Thunder this week.
- Luka Garza signed a 2-way contract. Garza was previously on a training camp deal.
- Matt Lewis, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Phillip Wheeler signed with the Iowa Wolves.
- P. J. Dozier, CJ Elleby, and A.J. Lawson were waived.
The Timberwolves have a problem every team in the NBA wants to have. They possess more talent than minutes per game. This may not seem like that big of an issue, but Minnesota’s incredible depth now puts Finch in a pickle.
The Starters
Minnesota’s starting five has been set in stone for the most part ever since obtaining Rudy Gobert back in July. However, there was one question – who would start at the 3?
Any Wolves fan would tell you that Jaden McDaniels should be starting at the 3, no questions asked. However, because the Timberwolves added Kyle Anderson in the off-season, the starting small forward spot may not have been locked in immediately.
Anderson pushes the pace incredibly well for being 6’9”. Having guys who can initiate offense is vital on a team like the Wolves. D’Angelo Russell is one of the better pick-and-roll ball handlers in the league, making him a lethal threat next to Gobert. However, Russell is also effective off the ball and spacing in the corners. Anderson gives DLo a break when the two play alongside each other.
Despite some talk over who will get the nod at the three come opening day, the Timberwolves named McDaniels as their starting small forward to begin the 2022-23 season. That officially locked in the starting five:
- PG – Russell
- SG – Anthony Edwards
- SF – McDaniels
- PF – Karl-Anthony Towns
- C – Gobert
This may be the best starting five the Timberwolves have ever had in franchise history. The healthy diet of offense and defense will make this team a huge threat to open the season. Not only is this group very diverse, but they’re also one of the most lengthy teams in the league, with three of the five guys standing 6’10” or taller.
The Bench Mob
When the Wolves sent Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Utah Jazz, it was only natural to wonder if Minnesota would have enough depth going into the year. Despite giving up nine players and a slew of picks for the Stifle Tower, Tim Connelly did a terrific job filling a deep roster of players that all complement each other’s games.
If I were in Finch’s shoes, this is how I’d run the first line of defense off the bench:
- PG – Jordan McLaughlin
- SG – Jaylen Nowell
- SF – Taurean Prince
- PF – Anderson
- C – Naz Reid
The first thing that jumps out to me when looking at this group is the diverse set of talents.
McLaughlin sets the pace with aplomb. Whether that’s starting the break off some terrific perimeter defense or hitting someone on the roll, McLaughlin is a perfect fit with the bench mob. His high motor and impact don’t stop there, though. Lil’-Mac can run with the starters equally, if not more efficiently.
Nowell and Prince will be Minnesota’s primary scorers off the bench. Nowell will handle most of the isolation and pick-and-roll plays, while Prince will do most of his damage from spacing the floor and playing with tremendous heart and soul every game.
Anderson is great with the ball in his hands, creating for others and starting the fastbreak. However, Slow Mo will fill any role Finch asks of him. If Anderson needs to play more off-ball and rotate the ball around, he can do it. If he needs to run with the starters and get everyone involved, he can do that too. He’s a true plug-and-play guy.
After starting the preseason slow, Reid showed how large of a threat he is on offense. His ability to hit the outside shot while scoring down low with incredible footwork makes him someone teams need to have on their scouting report. Furthermore, McLaughlin plays exceptionally well next to Reid, elevating his game that much more.
The Odd Men Out
As stated before, the Wolves have more talent than minutes to go around, so there are bound to be outliers who won’t make the open-night rotation.
Finch likes to run a 10-man rotation, which has its merits. Guys tend to click better when knowing exactly who they will be matching up with every time on the floor, allowing for higher team chemistry in crucial spots of games.
However, Finch may need to go 11 or even 12 men deep this year.
Some notable players that aren’t in a potential 10-man rotation? Austin Rivers, Nathan Knight, and Bryn Forbes (who’s played one heck of a preseason). Even though these three may not be getting the minutes they hope for, having them on the team, even if they don’t play regular minutes will allow them to make up for injuries farther up in the rotation, something they didn’t have last season.
Finch has his work cut out for him between now and opening night. However, if you were to ask Finch if he sees this as a “problem,” I’m sure he’d respond with a firm no. From the starters all the way down to the 17th man, you get the feeling that all of the guys on Minnesota’s roster know exactly why they are here, and all have one goal – winning.
