The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to have an abundance of riches heading into the 2022-23 NBA season. Rather, the obvious four starters on the roster have given the team focused clarity for the remaining players on the roster. With a clear set of starters, the team had a jump start on filling out the bench with complementary pieces. Well, a certainty for four starters at least. Those four starters are:
Center Rudy Gobert – The Minnesota Timberwolves traded multiple players and first-round draft picks to pry this All-Star from the Utah Jazz. He is a defensive genius, but Timberwolves fans have only seen him appear once in preseason.
Power Forward Karl-Anthony Towns – Incoming Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly wasted no time in making sweeping changes to the Timberwolves roster. But by acquiring Gobert, the team instantly moved Towns to a more suitable power-forward role for the big guy. From the 4, Towns will have fewer rim protection demands and will be able to emphasize his offense. That should also help to shrink the number of fouls committed, keeping KAT in the game late, when the TWolves need him the most.
Badass backcourt
Shooting guard Anthony Edwards – In just two NBA Seasons, Edwards has flashed the brilliance of an NBA All-Star. So far in the preseason, Ant-Man is the only starter who has appeared in all preseason games. While his shooting needs to shake off some rust as he is shooting 23 of 54 from the floor, his much-talked-about defensive game is showing up in a big way.
Point guard D’Angelo Russell – The Timberwolves have set the bar rather high for the eight-season NBA veteran, but even with lofty expectations, Russell may surpass them. In three preseason games, DLo is averaging better than 12 points, three rebounds, and five assists per game. Look for all of those to escalate when he has the chance to compete with his fellow starters on the same basketball court.
But who will start at the small forward spot? The team has plenty of options in the form of veteran forward Taurean Prince, young forward Jaden McDaniels, or even ‘Slo Mo’ himself, Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson. Who did they choose?