The biggest strengths of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench

Savvy Vets

Just listen to Anthony Edwards rave about Taurean Prince at the 4:05 mark of this postgame interview. A veteran wing that helped establish the defensive culture. Prince takes on a lot of tough matchups when he graces the floor. The prototypical three-and-d player organizations desire. He guards one of the opponent’s best offensive weapons and drills three-pointers with ideal accuracy.

Opposing coaches don’t leave him open (-0.94 Openness Rating, per BBall-Index). He takes advantage of catch and shoot situations, paired with that fact that you can’t leave him in the corner. His three-and-d archetype and leadership qualities are greatly appreciated.

Kyle Anderson is a sneaky good pickup that may turn some heads. He’s a big playmaker that plays both sides of the floor. Anderson played point guard in college at six-foot-nine. Anderson can run an offense for stretches while stripping opponents on the other end with his rangy frame. Anderson plays at his own methodical pace; lulling defenders to sleep with slow in-and-outs before slithering by them with smooth craft. “Slo Mo,” as he is famously nicknamed, will become a fan favorite soon.

Newly acquired guard Austin Rivers will immediately be a pest on the ball. Will he bring the same type of intensity former Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverly bought? You’d hope so, but don’t count on it as Patrick Beverly is one of one. Rivers is a seasoned veteran however, with the most playoff experience on the roster. He can still heat up from three in pivotal moments, just ask the 2021 Portland Trailblazers what it’s like when Rivers unexpectedly starts cooking.