Minnesota Timberwolves training camp depth chart: Center
Karl-Anthony Towns is the best offensive center in the league. If he can figure out how to improve defensively and play within the scheme, then he’ll be a top 10 player. It’s that simple.
Behind Towns, the Wolves only had Reid on the depth chart, up until last week.
As mentioned in the power forward section, Davis will probably play behind Towns and soak up the 10 to 15 minutes per game that Towns is not on the court.
But the Wolves may be eyeing a second-unit pairing of Davis at the 4 and Reid at the 5. Davis would cover for Naz’s significant defensive shortcomings and his spotty rebounding, and Reid would provide the floor-stretching that is absent in Davis’ game. Playing Reid behind Towns also allows the Wolves to run the same sets as they do with the starters on the floor.
And that’s about it. The Wolves only other option at center would be Vanderbilt, but it isn’t likely he sees time at the 5.
Summarizing the Minnesota Timberwolves’ greatest needs
The two things that the Wolves are lacking is a true third-string point guard and shooting off the bench.
Solving the point guard issue should be relatively easy; Minnesota will try to bring McLaughlin back, but if that doesn’t work, they could sign any number of veteran point guards still on the market.
The shooting problem is interesting. The starting lineup will have four players who should be above-average 3-point shooters at their respective positions in Russell, Beasley, Hernangomez, and Towns.
Behind them, however, are a crew of below-average long-range launchers in Okogie, Culver, and Edwards, and a pair of league-average (at best) 3-point shooters in Rubio and Layman. Davis doesn’t shoot threes, leaving Reid as the only backup big man with long-range ability.
Clearly, the Wolves are going to target players to continue upgrading their shooting. If neither Culver or Okogie show improvement in their jumpers, one or both of them may not be long for the roster.
Even still, this should be a deep and relatively well-rounded depth chart put together by Rosas and the Minnesota Timberwolves front office.