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Minnesota Timberwolves: Projecting the roster and wing rotation

By Jack Borman

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 8: Josh Okogie #20 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on October 8, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 8: Josh Okogie #20 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on October 8, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ST. PAUL, MN – JULY 18: Jaylen Nowell #4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks to the media during the introductory press conference on July 18, 2019 at the Conway Community Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images).
ST. PAUL, MN – JULY 18: Jaylen Nowell #4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks to the media during the introductory press conference on July 18, 2019 at the Conway Community Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images). /

Who’s on the fence?

Jack Borman: 

Jaylen Nowell and Keita Bates-Diop.

Coming into the season, I had an idea of how good Jaylen Nowell’s shooting, athleticism and defense was, but I fully expected him to play the whole season down in Iowa with the G-League Wolves team.

After watching him in the first three preseason games, my feelings have shifted quite a bit. Early in the first and second preseason contests, Saunders called upon Nowell to boost the team’s offense. While he played less non-garbage time minutes with the rotational players on Sunday than he did in the first two contests, his play against Phoenix and Golden State makes me wonder how soon he’ll carve out a role with the Wolves’ NBA squad.

KBD was out against Maccabi Haifa with an injury, but he played well offensively in the first two preseason games. He is a bit of a tweener at 6-foot-9, but his 230-pound frame should help him crash the glass and defend bigger players. Whether or not he makes the roster depends on how confident the Wolves are in his shooting ability (25.0 percent from 3 last season). Ultimately, I think he plays most of the season down in Iowa, but could rise up with injuries to regular rotational players.

Andrew Ites:

I agree that we’ll see Jaylen Nowell spend most of his rookie year in Iowa like fellow second-round pick Keita Bates-Diop did last year.

Bates-Diop is an intriguing player, but I don’t see him vaulting above any of the players we mentioned as roster locks and a preseason injury has not helped his chances of making the 15-man roster.

I think Rosas showed that he doesn’t have a ton of faith in Bates-Diop by going out and aggressively acquiring wings in free agency this offseason.

I’d expect Nowell and Bates-Diop to start the season in Iowa with a chance to get some playing time if the Wolves’ wings suffer some injuries this year.

Ben Beecken:

Both Nowell and Bates-Diop are perched on the fence, although Nowell’s advantage is that he’s three years younger, was drafted by this front office just a few months ago, and received guaranteed money and a multi-year deal.

Don’t be shocked if the Wolves try to trade Bates-Diop in order to avoid cutting someone. Nowell should make the team but spend much of the season with the Iowa Wolves of the G League.

Another player that wasn’t mentioned by Jack or Andrew is Tyrone Wallace. While he’s played a lot of point guard to this point in his career, Wallace also played some two-guard with the LA Clippers and is the only more traditional combo guard on the Wolves’ roster. I would put him in the “on the fence” category as he could also be the odd man out if the Wolves choose to outright cut somebody instead of pulling off a trade.

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