Exploring the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defensive rebounding problem

Jarred Vanderbilt is a step in the right direction for the Timberwolves

Jarred Vanderbilt received the first start of his career on Monday in Atlanta. Since joining the regular rotation a couple of weeks ago, he’s put up a rebound rate of 17.7 percent, which is third on the team behind only Towns and Davis.

Vanderbilt’s rebounding prowess shouldn’t have been hard to predict; his career rebound rate is 16.8, albeit in limited action, but his rebound rate in 13 games at the University of Kentucky was a whopping 24.4 percent, and his mark in 24 career G League games is a fantastic 20.1 percent.

Turns out, adding a 6-foot-9, natural power forward with a 7-foot-1 wingspan to the rotation will help you in the rebounding category.

But, with Towns out, how will the Wolves both score and rebound? Davis is all-rebounding, some defense, and limited offense. Reid basically only provides offense. Layman and Okogie are poor answers in long minutes at the 4.

The Wolves simply don’t have the right combination of players to sustain a multi-game absence from Towns. Now, with Towns out indefinitely due to a positive COVID-19 test, Minnesota is facing its second such stretch of the still-young season.

Even when Towns returns, how will the Wolves remedy the rebounding issue? More Vanderbilt minutes is a start. Perhaps Davis takes over Reid’s backup minutes at the 5. Maybe the Wolves change something schematically.

Whatever the answer is, it has to happen in short order. Towns will miss a minimum of three or four more games, and there aren’t any other big men on the roster.

Reid must improve, Davis and Vanderbilt need to play more, and the rest of the Wolves not named Culver or Beasley need to hit the glass much harder.