Timberwolves toss a change up, Slo Mo is huge addition

The Minnesota Timberwolves were never going to land any featured NBA stories at the pace the front office set when the NBA Free Agency market opened for business. In fact, the team began their offseason with a bit of a slow and deliberate approach to the entire team roster-building process.

Rather than fill roster vacancies with some of the biggest names of the league right out of the gates, the Timberwolves began about their business to the beat of their own drum. In the process, the team has aimed at filling their biggest needs.

Those needs may be huge, but the Minnesota Timberwolves roster moves began at a snail’s pace.  The team’s first step into the NBA free agency market was not a huge stride. Rather, the team remained sure-footed and took little baby steps. Or, perhaps I should say slow Euro Steps. Why?

Because the first NBA Free agent signed to the team is former  Memphis Grizzlies Kyle Anderson, whose unique slow-motion Eurostep, as he drives to the basket, is phenomenally slow.

But his ability to pile up impressive stats is fast-tracking. And the subsequent moves: Trading for NBA All-Star center Rudy Gobert, drafting Wendall Moore Jr. and Josh Minott, drafting and stashing Matteo Spagnolo, and a host of other Timberwolves Free Agency transactions that individually do not tell the same tale as taking all of the moves altogether.

As the team has gotten significantly stronger defending the basket, the next area to improve is to get better defending overall.  And the team certainly has taken a huge step in that direction with the addition of ex-Grizzlies Kyle Anderson. As noted earlier, he has the nickname Slo-Mo, but he brings intensity and fierce defense to the Timberwolves roster.

Right now, he is projected to back up Karl-Anthony Towns in the power forward role. But his presence gives the Timberwolves two excellent rotational options.

If Anderson, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels are on the court at the same time, the Timberwolves field an incredibly strong defense that can shut down opponents and pile up fast break points.

If Anderson, Karl-Anthony Towns (at center), and Jaden McDaniels are on the court at the same time, the Timberwolves maintain rim defense with McDaniels and Anderson, but add the offensive arsenal of KAT, a formidable three-point shooter, to their transitional game.

Anderson will get plenty of playing time for the Timberwolves. He can defend any position, he has a sneakily effective perimeter shot, and he excels at defense.