Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 Wolves lineup possibilities for 2020-21

Minnesota Timberwolves Lineup Option No. 1: All-Chalk Draft, Minimal Trades

Wolves Starting Lineup No. 1

G: D’Angelo Russell
G: Malik Beasley
G: Josh Okogie
F: James Johnson
C: Karl-Anthony Towns
Sixth Man: Anthony Edwards

This is a lineup that would result from the Minnesota Timberwolves selecting Anthony Edwards with the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Edwards is at the top of most mock drafts. He is extremely athletic with a tremendous ceiling, but his lack of consistency would make it difficult to put him in the starting lineup over Beasley or Okogie, especially on opening night.

Beasley’s offense and Okogie’s defense are both crucial to the starting unit. Are Edwards’ offensive skills superior to Beasley’s? Are Edwards’ defensive skills superior to Okogie’s? These questions are valid and certainly work against the argument for putting Anthony Edwards.

More broadly, it also sheds light on why Edwards may not be a good fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Aside from Edwards being left out of the starting lineup, this would be one of the Wolves’ strongest defensive lineups in years, with Okogie and Johnson being outstanding defenders at their positions.

Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, this is the lineup that was supposed to play together for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, but this group’s time together was severely hampered by injuries. This lineup may seem likely due to the lack of roster moves needed to assemble it, but it is hard to imagine Gersson Rosas’ front office to not trading either the first overall pick in the draft or James Johnson’s expiring contract.