Nothing lasts forever. Even good things must come to an end. Whether it’s Minnesota’s seasons, the configuration of the stars around Polaris, or the roster constructed around Anthony Edwards, the only constant in this world is change.
Plenty of Timberwolves media day centered around the residual effects of Minnesota’s recent blockbuster swap of Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first-round pick, and the emotions felt in the wake of that trade. However, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly shared a glimpse into the future when asked about team-building with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“We want to be a sustained team,” Connelly said. “We want to have different iterations around [Edwards]. He’s so young, so we’re going to see various teams built around him, and we’re super excited about where we are now and where we’re going to be in the future.”
Last year, the most recent CBA instituted the infamous second apron and its far-reaching rules, changing how teams tie rosters together.
Teams that spend above a certain threshold can’t use the mid-level exception and must send out more money than they take in on trades to the already in-place luxury tax. Therefore, Connelly has been creative in constructing the Wolves roster.
Minnesota’s draft-night acquisition of Rob Dillingham was the only way to obtain a quality bucket-getter for its bench (and future), and the Towns’ trade will create financial flexibility for the Wolves.
That future, which will almost certainly include extending Naz Reid and having cap space to bargain with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, is beginning to take shape. Connelly and Chris Finch speak about it constantly.
Versatility.
“Versatility certainly helps with team building,” Connelly said about having a depth of wings. “The NBA is becoming largely positionless. We have a clear 1 in Mike and a clear 5 in Rudy, so it can be beneficial to have a bunch of switchable guys in between. We like our collection of wings, both established and guys that are coming.”
The current iteration with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and stabilizing floor general Mike Conley has by no means been disappointing.
Gobert and Conley played huge roles in securing Minnesota’s first Western Conference Finals trip since 2004. They were integral to the Utah Jazz’s success from 2019 to 2022. However, the Wolves must eventually turn their roster over to their younger players.
Call it “two timelines,” but the Wolves are assembling a versatile team to complement the Gobert-Conley-era core.
Minnesota’s collection of youth – Jaden McDaniels, Reid, Alexander-Walker, Josh Minott, Leonard Miller, Terrence Shannon Jr. – all stand no shorter than 6’5” and play a few inches taller. The Wolves are asking all of those players to build upon their strengths.
McDaniels might flourish into a two-way player this season after four years of trademark on-ball defense. Finch has talked about getting him more on-ball reps operating in a pick-and-roll with Gobert, in addition to attacking weak defenders matched up on McDaniels.
Reid might have a future at the 3. But he can also play the 4 and the 5. His shooting, driving, and help defense made him a Sixth Man of the Year, but Finch believes he can offer even more.
“We do need Naz, I think, to get back to more passing,” Finch told MinnPost’s Britt Robson in a wide-ranging interview. “I think he sees the floor very well – I think it’s elite.
“I think he can do more playmaking, whether it be quick decisions where it is just simple (passes to the) side stuff or with his passive passing unlocking simple shots. He needs to get back to doing more of that. He should now have a comfort level that is a proven part of this team and every year he has found a way to get better, make an impact and excel in his role.”
A player who can run off pindowns, make quick decisions, and defend the way Reid does is worth a lot of money (which helps explain the Towns trade). However, it’s also a key cog in a versatile machine.
Alexander-Walker may be on a similar path to Reid.
He knocked down a career-high 39.1% of his threes last year, and his defensive prowess (and leg sleeve) drew comparisons to McDaniels during Minnesota’s playoff run. Still, he thinks there’s more he can do to fit next to Edwards.
“I think I want to take a lot of pressure off [Conley], just playmaking as a whole,” he recently told Dane Moore. “That’s that step I would like to take is becoming a full, complete playmaker. I know that I’m going to be there defensively. That’s what I do. I’ve accepted that’s who I am, but adding to it.”
Most upper 30s percentage three-point shooters, like Trey Murphy and OG Anunoby, don’t have to shoulder larger playmaking burdens. Alexander-Walker’s college history (4 assists per game in his final season at Virginia Tech) will simplify any role change.
DiVincenzo will compete with Alexander-Walker for wing minutes, so this addition to his game would help him find playing time.
Minott looks like a cross between a stretch 4 and an oversized wing now that he’s gained confidence in his three-point stroke. It could be overblown coachspeak, but Finch has spoken glowingly about his summer.
Minott hasn’t seen growth in his three-point percentage. However, he made 80% of his free throws last G League regular season and showcase, which indicates he has the touch to be at least a quality shooter. His frame and athleticism still indicate he can become a multi-positional defender.
Drafted to a stacked team, the Wolves haven’t asked him to play many minutes. That may not change much this season, but it isn’t too late to ascend.
The 6’10” Miller is as much as 3 as a 5. He shot 36.5% on 5.4 three-point attempts per game last regular season and during the G League showcase. Miller also hauled in 8.4 rebounds per game. Minott could be years away from realizing his full potential, but there’s a possibility he will develop into a nightly contributor for Minnesota.
Shannon looks like an NBA-ready rookie equipped with downhill scoring, defense, and solid shooting – and a 6’9” wingspan. He may not be a lead creator in the future, but he has the ball-handling and playmaking abilities of a combo guard.
Edwards is central to everything the Wolves do, but he may play differently this season. Inspired by Stephen Curry, he’s aiming to become a better off-ball scorer.
Improving off-ball movement is never a bad thing, whether it’s as simple as devoting more energy in that area or using screens and the defense’s sight lines to best position oneself. It’d be a natural improvement for Edwards as he continues on his path to stardom.
Although he may no longer fit the youth requirement of the aforementioned versatile wings, Randle may epitomize this archetype.
His 28.7% usage rate was the 25th highest in the league last season. However, he’s tall, can handle the ball, and shot 41.1% from three in 2020-21.
Randle is a 33.3% career three-point shooter. But like most players, he has better numbers in catch-and-shoot situations. He made 35.4% of his catch-and-shoot threes last season (3.1 attempts per game) and 35.6% when he took 0 dribbles.
While he doesn’t boast excellent stats on cuts or handoffs, he could theoretically excel in those areas. However, he doesn’t have much experience in those areas of his game. Still, he may be able to play off Conley and Edwards much more if he sees a decrease in usage rate in Minnesota.
Randle has also been an excellent player with high-usage roles. In minutes sans Conley and Dillingham, he’d be a candidate to operate as a “point forward.”
Although he entered the NBA well before Paolo Banchero, Randle could play much like Banchero does for the Orlando Magic.
The Magic are a versatile team. They may not make enough threes, but Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, and Wendell Carter Jr.’s skillsets combine to form a disruptive defense with an offense in which a large number of players can facilitate and handle the ball.
Edwards probably doesn’t fit the mold of any of those players. Still, it’s fair to wonder if Minnesota’s next “iteration” could look similar to the Magic.
The work Minnesota puts in now doesn’t just have to be with both eyes looking to the future. The current iteration still has bounds of potential, and all the shifting skillsets – McDaniels getting more on-ball reps on offense, Reid playing more minutes at the 3, Alexander-Walker going back to his roots as a playmaker, Randle’s insertion into the lineup – can work with Conley and Gobert.
Versatility helps every team. It is arguably most important to the Wolves right now.
As Connelly says, they have a clear 1 and a clear 5. All of the players in between must be versatile. When Conley and Gobert eventually slow down, Minnesota may have fully stocked its roster with versatile wings and players that can easily revolve around Edwards and each other.
