Timberwolves: Why Bryn Forbes will prove an underrated pickup

After moving four players from the 2021-22 roster in the Rudy Gobert trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in need of more offensive firepower for their bench. So it made sense why they officially agreed to a one-year deal with former Denver Nuggets guard Bryn Forbes on July 12th.

While Forbes wasn’t one of the biggest free agent names out there and some fans may not think much of this signing, it could end up being one that has a significant effect on the Timberwolves’ season outcome. Here’s why Bryn can be an underrated addition for Minnesota.

Forbes Is A Lights-Out Shooter

Standing at just six-foot-two, Bryn Forbes doesn’t have a ton of advantages over his competitors when it comes to pure physical attributes. In fact, most other NBA shooting guards tower over him. But what he does have is a shooting touch that’s uncommon.

In his 2021-22 campaign with the Spurs and Nuggets, Forbes shot 41.4% from three on just under four attempts per game. He ranked 12th in the league for three-point percentage on the year, finishing above talented shooters like Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday, and Minnesota’s own Karl-Anthony Towns.

While in Denver, Bryn was especially comfortable shooting threes from the corner. He ended his stint with the Nuggets shooting an astounding 63% on corner threes. For his career, he’s a 49% corner three-point shooter.

The kind of pinpoint accuracy that Forbes provides would be helpful to any team in a three-point driven league, but his skill could be even more helpful in Minnesota given the Timberwolves’ personnel.

Bryn Fits Well On TWolves’ Roster

When he’s inserted in lineups alongside talents like Anthony Edwards or Karl-Anthony Towns, Bryn will be able to benefit from the extra attention that players such as Ant and KAT demand from defenses. When teams are forced to double or send help on defense, it will open a lot up for the likes of Forbes. He already gets his shots off quickly and efficiently, but if he’s given extra space to operate, watch out.

Conversely, Bryn is a veteran of the league at this point, and teams are aware of his exemplary shooting prowess. Defenders aren’t going to leave him alone unless they absolutely have to. So having him on the floor will also be beneficial in discouraging teams from sending help on defense, lest they leave open a shooter like Forbes. He’ll be able to create spacing to help other Timberwolves players operate more freely on offense.

Not only is Bryn an elite shooter from outside, but he also finishes extremely well once he steps inside the paint as well. Last season, he was near automatic when taking defenders off the dribble and pulling up for a mid-range jumper, shooting a scorching 69.2% when shooting from 10-16 feet away from the basket in Denver.

In an ideal world, Forbes can play a similar role in Minnesota as he did in Milwaukee when he helped them take home the championship in 2021. He can be a scoring spark off the bench that comes in and provides instant offense while spacing the floor and opening up opportunities for his teammates.

Forbes famously outscored Jimmy Butler in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, so there’s no question he can play on the biggest stage as well. The Timberwolves got a good one.