The Minnesota Timberwolves will take the floor for their highly-anticipated regular season debut on Wednesday evening. It’ll be the culmination of a long offseason of work and roster-building.
With so many star talents set to don the Timberwolves uniform, expectations are at maybe an all-time high for Minnesota. The group that earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference and pushed the Memphis Grizzlies to six games in the playoffs last season has only gotten better.
Not to mention, there’s still somewhat of a surprise element at play with this team. Just how much better will players like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels be? The answer will likely have massive implications on the Timberwolves’ season.
Likewise, as the season goes along, certain players are going to be crucial to Minnesota’s success. There’s a lot of talent on this roster top to bottom, but some players will naturally be more vital to the team’s success than others.
Let’s break down who is going to be most important to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ success this season.
17. Wendell Moore Jr.
First off, this placement for Wendell Moore isn’t a slight on his talent by any means. Over his three collegiate seasons at Duke, he developed into a strong, versatile wing who has a lot of potential as a playmaker.
Defensively he’s a menace, and he will no doubt make a name for himself on that end of the floor in due time. But as it currently stands, he’s just going to be buried too deep in the rotation.
Could he be a meaningful contributor this season if he earns significant minutes? Absolutely. But in all likelihood, he’ll be best served watching and learning from the vets in his rookie campaign.
16. Josh Minott
It’s probably not surprising that the two rookies earned the last two spots on this list. The same points about Wendell Moore not seeing the floor very much will likely apply to Josh Minott as well.
However, the reason Minott is placed above Moore here is more about positional need for the Timberwolves. Whereas Moore projects as more of a small wing, Minott is built to play in the frontcourt with his 6’8″ frame.
Size is always an important factor in the NBA, and it’s not unlikely that Minott could see some extra burn in his rookie year due to his combination of height and high motor.
15. Eric Paschall
Retaining the Two-Way contract with the Wolves that he signed back in the summer, Eric Paschall will be looking to revive his career in Minnesota.
Coming off a disappointing season with the Utah Jazz after being traded from the Warriors, Paschall will do his best to prove he’s still a valuable rotation player in the NBA.
Fortunately, his reworked shot profile should go a long way toward making that happen. He’ll be pretty far down the rotation, but should be able to provide decent minutes when called upon.
14. Luka Garza
After his outstanding showing in preseason, Luka Garza earned his way to a Two-Way contract after signing with the Timberwolves on a training camp contract.
His less-than-spectacular first NBA season with the Detroit Pistons was forgotten quickly when he dropped 15 points in the fourth quarter and knocked down three three-pointers against the Lakers in preseason action last week.
While he still won’t be part of the regular rotation, Garza definitely has the mystery factor around his game to intrigue fans. What can he become? We’ll have to wait and see.
13. Nathan Knight
Entering his second season with the Timberwolves, Nathan Knight will look to break into the rotation and improve on his career average of 7.8 minutes played per game.
Standing at 6’10”, Knight has the frame to play inside and has enough skill to step outside as well. His 31% mark from three-point range in 2021-22 will give him a big boost in lineup considerations.
He won’t be super impactful to this team’s success, but he can still be useful in the right situation.
12. Austin Rivers
Another new addition to the Timberwolves, Austin Rivers will bring veteran leadership and high-IQ ball-handler skills to the team.
Entering his 11th NBA season, Rivers has appeared in 60 career playoff games. As such, his impact on the team will manifest itself in the locker room just as much as it does on the court.
His scoring ability isn’t quite what it used to be, as he averaged just six points per game with the Denver Nuggets last season. However, his point guard skills and knowledge of the game aren’t beaten by many.
11. Taurean Prince
Like Nathan Knight, Taurean Prince will also enter his second season with the Timberwolves. In 2021-22, he contributed 7.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in a meager 17 minutes per contest.
If his production from last season can be replicated, he’ll be in good position to see the floor more often. It’s also notable that he’s been an efficient scorer in Minnesota, shooting 45% from the field last year.
Prince won’t be in the closing lineup for the Timberwolves, but his ability as an off-ball cutter and energy player make him increasingly valuable.
10. Jordan McLaughlin
Coming off the bench to back up D’Angelo Russell, Jordan McLaughlin is in a very good spot. Not only is he serviceable as a ball-handler, but his play in the postseason last year likely has him in position to see the floor more often.
After putting up 6.2 points (close to double his regular season average) and 3.4 assists against the Grizzlies in round one of the playoffs, McLaughlin showed he can be relied on in a pinch. Not to mention he also shot an absurd 71% from the field.
When members of the starting lineup are out or having a rough night, the Timberwolves will be happy to have McLaughlin hopping off the bench to give them a boost.
9. Bryn Forbes
The sharp-shooting Bryn Forbes brings his mastery of the three-pointer and his sneaky off-ball movement to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s an absolutely lethal threat to catch fire from three, as he shoots 41% from beyond the arc for his career.
While he has his shortcomings defensively, he more than makes up for it as a flamethrower from three-point range on the other end of the floor.
When Chris Finch utilizes lineups with Forbes on the floor, defenses will have to change their game plan to make sure he’s accounted for. If they don’t, he’ll be lighting up the scoreboard.
8. Naz Reid
A very consistent player, Naz Reid’s per-36 minute stats remained mostly the same over the last two seasons even as he saw a slight drop in minutes played in 2021-22.
Timberwolves fans know what they’re going to get from him. An energy player, Reid is large and strong enough to check in the game and bully opposing big men for rebounds. And he’s got enough post moves in his bag to score or get to the line consistently.
If he can continue hauling in around 10 points and four rebounds while scoring at a high clip, Wolves fans seem confident he’s going to be a major piece for this team all year long. His preseason performances certainly didn’t do anything to hurt that perception.
7. Jaylen Nowell
One of the most underrated guards in the NBA, Jaylen Nowell will be the team’s go-to scorer off the bench.
But anyone who’s watched him knows that he’s far from your ordinary bench player. A shifty and lethal scorer, Nowell makes defenses pay on a nightly basis.
Nicknamed Big Tymah, Nowell will continue to be relied on to provide instant offense with his quick first step and reliable jumper. When the Timberwolves’ offense is lagging, he’ll be there to knock down jump shots from all over the floor. A midrange master, Nowell’s 55% career success rate from the 10-16 foot range will be huge for Minnesota.
6. Kyle Anderson
The former Memphis Grizzly Kyle Anderson brings all the intangibles the Timberwolves are looking for, the biggest of which has to be his defense.
A versatile defensive player, Anderson uses his combination of length and IQ to routinely take the ball away from his opposition. Constantly getting his hand in passing lanes, Slo-Mo is the frequent cause of an opponent’s broken play.
On the other side of the floor, Anderson will help the Timberwolves’ offense flow with his timely playmaking ability. He may be Minnesota’s most important player not in the starting lineup.
5. Jaden McDaniels
Entering his third season, Jaden McDaniels has high aspirations for himself. After it was announced that he’ll officially be the Timberwolves’ starting small forward, he’ll be able to work toward his goal of being named to the All-Defensive First Team.
It may sound lofty, but McDaniels has shown us he has the physical tools and the know-how to make it happen. He’ll be relied on to guard some of the most gifted scorers in the league this season, and it’s a task he’s more than up for.
Offensively, his game is reaching new levels, and that should be helped even more by teammates like D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards finding him in the right spots.
4. D’Angelo Russell
Speaking of D’Angelo Russell, he comes in at fourth on our list. After a bit of a drop-off in the playoffs last year, Russell will be fired up and ready to go for the Timberwolves this season.
While discussions about his next contract are still up in the air, D-Lo knows what kind of player he is. He may not be the best point guard in the NBA, but he’s better than many casual viewers believe.
That’s why his play will be so crucial for the Timberwolves this season. He’s already developed a strong relationship with his new starting center, and the chemistry between him and his teammates will be paramount in their on-court success.
The impact of the play of a team’s point guard is always hard to overstate. When Russell is operating at a high level, Minnesota will be very tough to stop.
3. Rudy Gobert
The Stifle Tower has arrived in the Twin Cities, and Rudy Gobert’s impact on this team will be monumental.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year significantly raises the ceiling for this Timberwolves team. Going forward, it will be much more difficult for opposing teams to score at will close to the hoop like the Grizzlies did in the 2022 playoffs.
Anchoring what could be a top 10 defense, Gobert will block and alter countless opponent shots this season. And when he’s not doing that, he’ll be making opposing offensive players think twice before driving into the paint and attempting a shot.
The best defensive teams frequently go deep into the postseason, and Gobert can make that possibility a reality for the Timberwolves.
2. Karl-Anthony Towns
Entering his eighth year in Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns will have more talent around him than ever before.
He’s the best-shooting big man in the NBA, and his skill should only be accentuated by the plethora of great players surrounding him. While many bigs in the league are more accustomed to shooting from the outside than ever before, Towns is a man amongst boys in that department.
KAT was one of two players 6’11” or taller to finish the year shooting 41% from three or better in 2021-22. And as supremely skilled as he is, he can still get better.
Defensively, any weaknesses he has can be covered up by his all-world defensive backcourt partner. Towns has an argument for best player on this Minnesota team, but there’s still one who has his number.
1. Anthony Edwards
There’s no question about it: the Minnesota Timberwolves are Anthony Edwards’ team. Coming into his own at just 21 years old, Edwards is looking to put the league on notice this year.
He’s one of the most gifted scorers in the NBA, and his offensive repertoire is still opening up. There’s a real possibility he could average 25 points per game or more as the Timberwolves’ first option this year.
A threat from all over the floor, Edwards is an absolute game-changer anytime he steps on the floor. In 2021, he became the youngest player in NBA history to make 10 three-pointers in a game. His talents are truly transcendent.
Basketball is a team game, but it should be obvious that Minnesota will go as far as Anthony Edwards will take them in 2023. With Ant budding into superstardom, Timberwolves fans could be in for something truly special.