What moves can the Minnesota Timberwolves do to Improve their roster for next season? Today we will take a look into that.
At 46-36 the Minnesota Timberwolves had their best season in years, since the 2017-2018 season.
In that season, they had Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins with Karl Anthony-Towns. Now with Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell with Towns (along with a few key new role players) the Timberwolves are back to becoming a solid core that just came off a hard 6 game series with the Memphis Grizzlies. With their season over, what can the Timberwolves do next to improve their roster? Today we take a look at what they can do.
Make a decision on D’Angelo Russell
Playing PG, D’Angelo Russell has been playing more SG next to Edwards. Russell hasn’t been the perfect fit but has been solid for the Timberwolves this season. However there are now rumors that he may be traded soon.
There are also rumors that he didn’t liked being benched either in the Timberwolves playoff series with the Grizzlies.
Although Russell is a solid player and has improved overall on both ends overall this season, as their first round series progressed, Russell struggled with his shooting and, to be honest, is better off being a six man type player. So I don’t think Minnesota should trade him yet, they are better off keeping him on the team (for now) and have him be their six man (if he’s willing). If not then trade him.
Upgrade their talent on the wing spots
I mentioned (if not traded) that Russell should come off the bench. Now who should be a candidate to start In Russell’s spot? I would like a bigger wing to play next to Edwards and Patrick Beverley in place of Russell. A wing that is a better defensive fit but can also provide some offensive in some ways. This player is someone that can be either a solid ball handler and/or can shoot the ball pretty well. Getting someone like this is hard to find but can help the Timberwolves tremendously and will move Edwards back to the two guard spot and would balance the line up better.
Right now there’s no one on the roster that can fill this role for them. Malik Beasley is too small, Taurean Prince doesn’t shoot well enough and many of the other wing candidates are also too small and have a glaring weakness on one end of the floor (Jaylen Nowell, Josh Okogie). Maybe Jaden McDaniels can be the answer but he’s too similar to Jared Vanderbilt and both of those guys are more like big men. If they can acquire someone like Alec Burks, Nic Batum, Dillon Brooks or someone similar to that mold, it will make a world of difference for Minnesota.
Solidify the Bench
Moving Russell to the bench can give the Timberwolves a major spark off the bench and can help them keep the leads that they build early in games. I also feel as if they are a few guys short bench wise. Look, no one is going to have a perfect bench but you could use better options on your bench than Jordan McLaughlin and Naz Reid. They could use someone that can play the backup center spot but can also produce some scoring to hold up the bench units, someone like a Kelly Olynyk or a Isaiah Hartenstein or even a Dewayne Dedmon (at worst). They could also use a solid backup PG on the cheap. Although McLaughlin played ok, getting a solid NBA backup guard that can solidify the offense when Towns and Edwards sit will provide wonders for this team. Also a solid backup PG helps lessen the load on their stars and help them free up Russell to be more of a scorer on the bench units.
Give the keys to Edwards
Now with his first taste of NBA playoffs, I think Anthony Edwards is ready to carry a bigger load on the Timberwolves Offense. As good as Towns is, if this becomes a team that complements Edwards more than Towns, I can see the Timberwolves take the next step. Towns is an amazing player but we have only seen two years of success of Towns being the face of the franchise, (with one of those years with Edwards by his side). Towns is better off being the secondary option, with the offense centered around Edwards now. With this adjustment and continued solid coaching from Chris Finch, the Timberwolves can take the next step and have continued playoff success.
KEEP Patrick Beverley (for now)
Patrick Beverley was a critical piece to this team’s current playoff success this season. His ferociousness and intensity was contagious In creating this teams current identity. They need to keep him as long as they can and as long as he can play for them. His attitude and physical style of play has rubbed off the team and made them a ferocious team to go against night in and night out. If they can keep him for a couple more years and continue to have his veteran leadership on the team, it will continue to hold guys accountable as well as keep them playing hard with his presence on the team.
The Timberwolves have had an amazing year as a franchise. Now it’s up to them to keep up the good that they have created as a team. Now with new ownership coming into the franchise for the next few years, things are looking up and can only go up from here. Now we just got to wait and see.
Leon Collington
Born and Raised in the Greater NYC Area. Long time New York Knicks fan as well as a Huge NBA fan since 2006. You can follow him on twitter at @KyosotaComics.