3 Players to watch in Timberwolves’ preseason opener vs. Heat

The Minnesota Timberwolves will take the floor for their first preseason game Tuesday evening against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena. It’ll be the team’s first chance to match up and compete with someone other than themselves, after a long summer of individual work and scrimmages.

The game will be the first of five preseason contests for the Timberwolves, and will be an excellent opportunity for certain players on the roster to show what they’ve got in the tank. Others will look to sure up their spot in the rotation.

Not everyone currently in the Minnesota locker room will make it to opening night, so it will be an opportunity to prove something for several players. While fans will certainly be excited to see the stars like Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert play, there’s a few other players that will be must-see TV for different reasons.

Guys who are on two-way or training camp contracts will essentially be trying to play their way into a roster spot in Minnesota. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three of the most notable players to watch for.

1. A.J. Lawson

After getting picked up by the Timberwolves at the conclusion of NBA Summer League, A.J. Lawson will look to retain his two-way contract with the team.

Still just 22 years old, Lawson has the chance to carve out a solid NBA career for himself. After spending time in the G-League, he’s grown as a scorer and could end up being a late bloomer that finds his niche in the league as an offensive spark plug.

While with the Dallas Mavericks in Summer League, Lawson averaged 15.6 points while shooting the ball with an impressive efficiency, finishing his campaign at just under 52% from the floor.

Lawson is coming into his own, and he’ll have the chance to continue his efficient shooting in preseason. He’ll have the chance to show off his quick first step and reliable jumper against Miami’s guards.

2. Luka Garza

Another newcomer to watch is the former college basketball National Player of the Year from the University of Iowa, Luka Garza. The Timberwolves signed him to an Exhibit-10 contract in August.

Garza was drafted 52nd overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 Draft, and put up 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in his lone professional season thus far.

While it may seem like a long shot for Garza to make the roster given that he’d have to win the spot over a current rostered player, the big man’s talent and body of work speaks for itself.

He entered the NBA after finishing one of the most decorated collegiate careers of any player in recent memory. In addition to winning college basketball’s prestigious Wooden Award in 2021, he also garnered Big Ten Player of the Year honors twice, won the Associated Press Player of the Year Award, and was a two-time consensus All-American.

Garza may not end up as a superstar big in the NBA like he did in college, but he’s certainly still worth taking a chance on. At 6’10” and 245 pounds, he has the size to bang with larger bigs in the post and be an effective rebounder.

If Garza really shows out in preseason, there’s still a chance he could end up on the roster for this season.

3. Eric Paschall

The Timberwolves’ other two-way roster spot is filled by Rudy Gobert’s former Utah Jazz teammate, Eric Paschall. After an up and down first three seasons in the NBA, Paschall is getting a fresh start in Minnesota, and he could end up as a sneaky good addition.

After being named to the NBA All-Rookie team in his first season with the Golden State Warriors, Paschall ran into trouble when he encountered injuries that ultimately forced him further down Steve Kerr’s depth chart. This led to his trade to the Jazz a season later.

While he didn’t have a great season in Utah and averaged just 5.8 points, there’s still reason to believe he can play a legitimate role on this Minnesota Timberwolves team.

Paschall modernized his game by taking 46% of his shot attempts from outside the arc last season, up from 18.1% in the season prior. As a result of getting more comfortable with shooting from distance, his three-point percentage rose to a respectable 37% in 2021-22.

With Paschall incorporating more tactical shot-taking into his game, he has the potential to develop into a rotational 3-and-D player for Chris Finch and his staff.

Look for him to take full advantage of matchups versus younger players against the Heat, and show that he still belongs in this league.