Minnesota Timberwolves: Will Justin Patton find a spot in the rotation?

After a rookie season ruined by injury, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Justin Patton has played in only one NBA game to date. After undergoing another surgery, Patton is likely to miss more time and risks falling far behind on the depth chart.

Minnesota Timberwolves big man Justin Patton has had an unlucky start for his NBA career, playing just one game in his rookie season, and looking like missing a chunk of time to begin his second.

After his second surgery, Tom Thibodeau reported Patton was likely to miss “most of the fall”, which will have him missing important chances to cement his role in the team’s rotation during the preseason, and opening weeks of the regular season.

If Thibodeau follows the same scheme to return Patton to health, he’ll also likely see a stint in the G-League before returning to the top team. With two other rookies on the roster, two players on two-way contracts and a couple of new roster additions, Patton is likely going to find it tough to crack Thibs’ notoriously-short rotations.

However, thankfully for Patton, the center position is one of the less-competitive roles to find a backup for on most NBA rosters.

Behind obvious starter Karl-Anthony Towns, only Patton and Gorgui Dieng fit the role of true Centers. Although Taj Gibson and Anthony Tolliver, both power forwards, could stretch to fill the role, as long as Patton comes back in full health, it seems likely he’ll see a bit of game time.

Patton was impressive with Iowa in the G League last season, so it will be interesting to see how long, if at all, Thibodeau chooses to assign him back there this season, and whether he’ll by joined by either of this seasons’ new draftees.

In his 38 games with Iowa last season, Patton started 28 times, averaging 12.7 points, 1.3 blocks, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a steal in 23 minutes per game. In his four minutes of NBA action, Patton managed to make one of his two field goal attempts for two points, and a steal.

This offseason could’ve been a crucial period for Patton to hone his skills and push his talents to the next level, although he’s now unfortunately going to miss out on those reps. That being said, as long as Patton comes back from his injury in basketball form, he could find his way into some minutes.

Thibodeau will likely send Patton back to Iowa for a stint, it’s easy to see him working his way into the Timberwolves lineup and getting some minutes early next year, or towards the tail end of the season.

Only time will tell what Thibodeau’s plan is, and there’s still time before the season in which he could bring in another big man and completely change Patton’s chances, but for now it seems there is a place for him on his return.

While we’re nearing our first glimpses of the new Wolves’ rookies in their first taste of preseason action, we unfortunately won’t be seeing Patton. However, we may get the chance to welcome him into the Wolves rotation later this season.