Predicting minutes for Minnesota Timberwolves’ rookies

After not making a selection in the NBA Draft in 2021, the Minnesota Timberwolves picked up two rookies that will be part of this year’s roster in June. Wendell Moore Jr. and Josh Minott will both be joining the Wolves on standard contracts in their first pro seasons.

Although they didn’t own the 26th pick, the Timberwolves were able to acquire Wendell Moore Jr. with the pick via a trade. He became the first first-round pick to land on the roster since Anthony Edwards in 2020.

Oddly enough, Minnesota also traded for the 45th pick in the 2022 Draft, which became Josh Minott. Both players performed well enough in Summer League to avoid being relegated to a two-way contract.

It can be difficult to gauge how many minutes a rookie will play, especially when they’re picked outside the lottery and not expected to be a crucial piece of the team. But based on a few different factors, we can take a solid guess at how often we’ll see these two on the court this season.

Wendell Moore Jr.

Earlier in the offseason, there were rumblings of a potential D’Angelo Russell trade, and the prevailing thought was that Wendell Moore could be thrust into a meaningful role right away if the Timberwolves’ starting point guard were to depart from Minnesota.

But with D’Lo seemingly not going anywhere, Moore will likely have a more typical minutes distribution for a rookie. He enters the NBA at 6’5″ and 215 pounds, a solid frame for him to play at guard or small forward.

Moore’s skillset might lend him to playing more as a ball-handler, but his biggest limitation at the moment is that he’s not much of a shot creator. So it’s likely that he’ll be better suited to operate off-ball as a distributor until his offensive game progresses a bit more.

His minutes will likely be limited as a rookie due to the Timberwolves’ depth and plethora of veteran players, but he’ll certainly have the chance to earn more playing time quickly with his high two-way upside.

Prediction: 12 minutes per game

Josh Minott

One of the biggest standouts for the Timberwolves in Summer League was Josh Minott, and as a good as Wendell Moore is, it’s possible Minott could be an even better fit for this team in the early going.

Minott displayed his high motor and overall intensity in Las Vegas with Minnesota’s Summer League squad. He certainly showed flashes of the attributes of a versatile wing in the NBA.

He defended well, rebounded at a high level, and unleashed his raw athleticism whenever he got the chance. Minott’s game-saving block against the Hornets in the Summer League finale was one of the top highlights of the entire summer campaign.

He’s still a little rough around the edges, but there’s no doubt the talent is there for Minott. The energy he brings to the court is invaluable, and could play a part in him carving out a larger role for himself as the year goes on.

Prediction: 16 minutes per game