What do the Minnesota Timberwolves need in order to be a contender?
Wings/Forwards
The two main stars in Minnesota are D’Angelo Russell (a guard), and Karl-Anthony Towns (a big), which leaves the wing/forward spots a little bleak. Currently on the team is Josh Okogie, Malik Beasley (RFA), Jarrett Culver, Jake Layman, Evan Turner (UFA), Jacob Evans, and Jaylen Nowell.
Josh Okogie is, by far, the best defender on the Timberwolves roster. The problem with Okogie, though, is that he can’t shoot — at least not efficiently (26%). Jarrett Culver has been promising, although he is the type of player that needs the ball in his hands to be effective.
Players from the 2/3 spot that can move off-ball and shoot relatively well seem to pair well with Towns, who does a lot of his scoring inside. The pairing that worked best with Towns actually seemed to be Jake Layman. When on the floor together, team field goal percentage went up, 3-point attempts rose, total points went up, rebounding and assist numbers ascended, and the number of turnovers fell.
When Robert Covington was with the Wolves, there were very similar results. The best players to have next to Towns, especially from the small forward spot, are 3&D players.
Perennial journeyman Jeff Green is an option. Houston has perfected the art of finding 3&D players mid-season, and he has been one that Daryl Morey has signed before a playoff run in multiple seasons.
Green averaged eight points on 35% from three this past season (with about 3.5 attempted threes per game). While Green certainly is not Covington, he also has not been terrible on defense (0.4 DBPM). Green should be very cheap to sign in free agency, likely costing nothing more than the veteran minimum.
3&D wing/forwards don’t just mesh with Karl-Anthony Towns, but D’Angelo Russell as well. Going back to 2018-19, the DeMarre Carroll-D. Russell two-man combination resulted in better efficiency at all three levels (FG/3P/FT) as well as an increase in points and rebounding percentage.
Other option: Torrey Craig