What is the Minnesota Timberwolves “Plan A” at backup point guard?
The Minnesota Timberwolves will have a better starting lineup on Opening Day of the 2020-21 season than in fall of 2019, and it will not be particularly close.
But what about the depth of the new addition of the team?
Central to the conversation about bench depth is the point guard spot. Who will orchestrate the offense when D’Angelo Russell is on the bench?
What is the Minnesota Timberwolves’ plan at backup point guard?
Two-fifths of the Wolves’ new starting lineup will be made up of recent All-Stars Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. The other 60 percent is still somewhat unknown.
At this stage, it’s probably more likely than not that Malik Beasley will return in restricted free agency. If he doesn’t, the Wolves will acquire someone to take his place, and it would be a genuine surprise to see an incumbent such as Jarrett Culver or Jaylen Nowell start on Opening Night.
It’s also safe to say that president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas and the rest of the front office is focused on adding at least one new starter to the group, which would push Culver to the bench.
In a perfect world, Josh Okogie would come off the bench as well, and the 4 is going to be manned by some combination of James Johnson, Jake Layman, and restricted free agent Juancho Hernangomez.
Put another way: the Wolves’ roster has decent depth, but most of it is players who are best suited in bench roles. This side of Russell, Towns, and maybe Beasley, there isn’t much true, playoff-worthy, starting-caliber talent.
That said, there is one backup role that only has one potential answer on the current roster, and that’s at the point guard position.
On the wings and in the frontcourt, positional flexibility is the name of the game. There are several options at the 4, and even at the 5 in creative small-ball lineups. Between Towns, Johnson, and Naz Reid, the Wolves appear to be set down low.
But at point guard, it’s only Russell and Jordan McLaughlin.
Is McLaughlin the answer in the backup role? If not, what direction will the Wolves look as the offseason unfolds?