Examining 3 potential Minnesota Timberwolves starting lineups

2. Russell, Edwards, Anderson, Towns, Gobert

While the first unit we looked at is probably the Timberwolves’ best bet for their most effective starting lineup, there’s going to be some nights where they’ll want to make some tweaks.

As talented as Jaden McDaniels is, it’s safe to assume he’s the most replaceable player among the five starters listed on the previous slide. Anthony Edwards is a rising superstar in this league, and the other three remaining starters have all been named All-Stars at some point in their careers.

So who would be the best candidate to swap out McDaniels for? Look no further than one of the Timberwolves’ newest summer acquisitions, Kyle Anderson.

One of the smarter basketball players in the NBA, Anderson uses his lengthy frame and quick wit to set others up for success. He finds his teammates for easy looks at a high rate, and he ranked in the 86th percentile of all NBA players last season in assist percentage, per Cleaning The Glass.

Slo-Mo is also a highly capable defender, averaging 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks per game last season in Memphis. He’s the basketball equivalent of a queen on a chess board, being able to do multiple important things on the floor at a high level.

If the Timberwolves are looking for a little lineup versatility, throwing Kyle Anderson in with the other presumed starters will likely be one of the best options they have.