Using advanced stats to find 8 perfect role-player fits for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Cutters

Mikal Bridges – 6-foot-6, 7-foot-1 wingspan
Forward, Phoenix Suns

• DPIPM: 1.72 / 91st percentile
• Spot-Up PPP: 0.85 / 27th
• Cutter: 1.49 PPP / 87th

Mikal Bridges is a name that’s been thrown around a few Dunking With Wolves discussions. He makes a lot of sense as a long defender who could cause problems on the perimeter. He also moves well offensively and cuts to the basket even more frequently than Josh Okogie.

As a 3-point shooter, Bridges hasn’t been the knockdown threat some hoped he would be, but there’s still plenty of time to improve on what’s already a respectable 35.2 percent from deep.

Isaac Bonga – 6-foot-8, 7-foot-0 wingspan
Forward, Washington Wizards

• DPIPM: 2.08 / 96th percentile
• Spot-Up PPP: 1.3 / 61st
• Cutter: 1.44 / 81st

The sample sizes on his spot-up shooting and cutting are small, but Bonga’s defensive impact makes him interesting for the Wolves regardless.

After playing a year for the Lakers, he was sent to Washington as part of the Anthony Davis trade in 2019. This year, he was one of the few Wizards to post a positive DPIPM, ranking in the 96th percentile league-wide.

He also showed glimpses of offensive potential, hitting 40 percent on 0.9 3-point attempts per game and scoring 1.44 points per possession on 0.4 cuts to the basket. He’ll be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2021, and the Timberwolves should take a long look if he posts another strong season.

Matisse Thybulle – 6-foot-5, 7-foot-0 wingspan
Wing, Philadelphia 76ers

• DPIPM: 1.23 / 88th percentile
• Spot-Up PPP: 0.94 PPP / 44th
• Cutter: 1.46 PPP / 82nd

Thybulle would be a good fit with the Wolves, and it makes sense because he’s as close to a statistical clone of Josh Okogie as you can get. In fact, I included him in this list mainly to point out the similarities.

There would be drawbacks for sure, but a lineup featuring Okogie and Thybulle would be awesome to watch. First, a comparison of their bios and traditional shooting percentages.

• Height
  • Okogie: 6-foot-5
  • Thybulle: 6-foot-5
• Wingspan
  • Okogie: 7-foot
  • Thybulle: 7-foot
  • Draft Position
    • Okogie: No. 20 in 2018
    • Thybull: No. 20 in 2019
    • Field Goal Percentage
      • Okogie: 42.7 percent
      • Thybull: 41.0 percent
      • 3-Point Percentage
        • Okogie: 26.6 percent
        • Thybulle: 35.2 percent

        Outside of 3-point shooting, it’s eery. Now, let’s look at some Point Per Possession numbers.

        • Pick-and-Roll Ball-Handler
          • Okogie: 0.62 PPP
          • Thybulle: 0.69 PPP
        • Spot-Up
          • Okogie: 0.89 PPP
          • Thybulle: 0.94 PPP
          • Off Screen
            • Okogie: 0.64
            • Thybulle: 0.63
            • Cutter
              • Okogie: 1.43
              • Thybulle: 1.46

              Crazy, isn’t it? Lots of great defense and some overall disappointing offense with exciting moments. Again, an Okogie-Thybulle pairing would be much stronger on defense than offense, but there would remain some upside on both ends of the floor.