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.