Nothing is perfect for any NBA team, and the Minnesota Timberwolves certainly fit into that imperfect category. With a finite supply of funds, a limited number of draft picks, and the reality that 29 other NBA teams are all trying to arrive at the same finish line faster than the competition, the Timberwolves’ best efforts were destined to come up short. But how short are they? Or rather, how close is this team to the ideal roster?
The Minnesota Timberwolves had a pretty good plan for the 2022 NBA offseason. The team improved the depth chart wherever the team could, and retained players on the roster where they needed to. In the end, the Minnesota Timberwolves projected 2022-23 depth chart is nearly incomparable to that of just one year ago. And yet, with all 15 roster slots filled, and both Two-Way contracts signed, and one player on an Exhibit 10 contract, is this enough?
You are the ultimate tiebreaker. But before deliberate, let’s take a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ current roster and projected depth chart:
- Player                     Posn       Ht               Wt                      Age    Exp
- D’Angelo Russell        PG1          6-foot-4  198-pounds     26      7
Jordan McLaughlin     PG2          5-foot-11 198-pounds    26      3
Austin Rivers               PG3          6-foot-4   200-pounds   30      10 - Anthony Edwards      SG1          6-foot-5  225-pounds    25       2
Jaylen Nowell              SG2          6-foot-4  200-pounds     23       3
Bryn Forbes                 SG3          6-foot-2  190-pounds     29       6 - Jaden McDaniels        SF1          6-foot-9   200-pounds     21       2
Kyle Anderson            SF2          6-foot-9   230-pounds     28       8
Wendell Moore Jr.      SF3          6-foot-4  198-pounds      26       7 - Karl-Anthony Towns PF1          6-foot-11 248-pounds    26       7
Taurean Prince           PF2          6-foot-7  220-pounds     28       6
Josh Minott                  PF3          6-foot-8   205-pounds    19      R - Rudy Gobert                C1            7-foot-1  245-pounds     30       9
Naz Reid                       C2           6-foot-9  250-pounds     22       3
Nathan Knight            C3          6-foot-10 253-pounds    24       2
Two Way contracts
- Player                    Posn       Ht               Wt                   Age    Exp
Eric Paschall              F            6-foot-6  255-pounds    25       3
A.J. Lawson                 SG           6-foot-6  177-pounds    22       1
Training Camp/Exhibit 10, Exhibit 9 (so far, Aug 11, 2022)
- Player                   Posn       Ht              Wt                     Age     Exp
C.J. Elleby                 SF         6-foot-6  200-pounds    22       2
If you read between the lines, you are aware of the fact that the Timberwolves are counting heavily upon the development of both SF Jaden McDaniels and SG Jaylen Nowell this season. In fact, you know that because Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has gone on record to publicly call out his two young players.
But the other point of the current depth chart is the fact that Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has stated that the team is a solid two-deep roster. That suggests that the team’s third man at each position is a work in process. But more than that, it also suggests that anyone filling the primary backup role at any position needs to be solid this year.
How do you feel about this roster? Do you see places where the team could improve? Or do the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be good to go?
Ready or not, the team is about to find out very soon.