Minnesota Timberwolves: Who is going to start at small forward?

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a plethora of players that could emerge as quality starters this upcoming season. Deciding who gets to start on day one will be a question that Ryan Saunders will have to answer as the 2020-21 season gets closer.

While the Minnesota Timberwolves have three (possibly four, depending on whether Malik Beasley re-signs) starters in place this upcoming season, there exists some uncertainty from the small forward spot. There are two main options that come to mind that are already on the roster: Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver.

While both of these players have their respective struggles, both bring valuable assets to a team that has a lot of offense.

The most likely option between those two players is Josh Okogie, who is the Timberwolves’ best defender. Okogie, who averaged nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal per game is going to be just 22 years old this upcoming season. He has the potential to mask either Beasley or D’Angelo Russell’s defensive weaknesses and, should his shot come around, could be one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA.

As of right now, though, Okogie is a one-sided player. He shoots sub-30-percent on nearly three 3-pointer-attempts per game – actually taking a step back from his rookie year in this respect. On the other hand, though, his free-throw numbers did improve slightly so it is possible the shooting comes around eventually.

The other option, Jarrett Culver, struggles with shooting as well. Despite being touted as a pro-ready player that brings a variety of skills, Culver struggled mightily during the course of his rookie season.

Culver averaged nine points, three rebounds, and one assist during his first NBA season. He shot splits of 40/30/46 (yes, 46-percent from the free throw line) although his numbers slightly improved after the trade deadline. Culver was better on the defensive end of the floor although, again, he was overall just not good.

The shooting, like Okogie, could limit how good of a wing player Culver truly becomes. While it is difficult to see him becoming a high-level perimeter scorer at this point, he did have a 3-point clip of over 40-percent following the trade deadline, a mark that should not be ignored outright.

Of those two players, it is more likely that Josh Okogie gets the nod, simply because he is an elite-level defender. There is another option though.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a really high draft pick this offseason. Whether or not they decide to keep it is a question in itself, but if the team chooses to select a player (say, one of Devin Vassell, Isaac Okoro, or Deni Avdija), they may be leaned on to start over Okogie and Culver.

While starting a rookie on a team that is looking to make a playoff push may seem illogical, Devin Vassell in particular has drawn praise for his skill set that would allow him to make an impact on any team his is selected to, regardless of roster talent.

Vassell, projected as a top-10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is a high-level shooter and defender, and can also create his own shot off of the dribble, create separation against players for pull-up jumpers, and provide playmaking (albeit minimally).