3 ways Tim Connelly built Minnesota Timberwolves roster to beat Nuggets
By Bret Stuter
Method III: Loaded roster
The Minnesota Timberwolves may have given up a lot to acquire Rudy Gobert, but the team did not fall silent after trading for him. The team went on to sign former Memphis Grillies forward Kyle Anderson, re-signed power forward Taurean Prince and drafted (and retained) power forward Josh Minott and wing Wendell Moore Jr.
All these players help to bolster a team whose primary weapons are power forward Karl-Anthony Towns and shooting guard Anthony Edwards. While most eighth-seeded NBA Playoff teams are riding a wave of one or two elite players, the Minnesota Timberwolves roster arguably boasts three such talents in Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Edwards.
Can’t stop ’em all
They all showed up big when the Timberwolves need all hands on deck, and their numbers are pretty impressive:
Karl-Anthony Towns tonight:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 15, 2023
28 PTS - 11 REB - 3 AST - 3 BLK - 68% FG
Rudy Gobert tonight:
21 PTS - 10 REB - 2 AST - 54% FG
Anthony Edwards tonight:
19 PTS - 10 REB - 6 AST - 2 STL
Mike Conley tonight:
14 PTS - 3 REB - 3 AST - 3 STL - 66% FG
Minnesota advances. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/t3OnCKKHzH
The ironic part about the Minnesota Timberwolves’ performance in Game 3 of the NBA Play-In Tournament is the fact that the team won convincingly without starting small forward Jaden McDaniels, backup center Naz Reid, or backup shooting guard Jaylen Nowell.
The Timberwolves roster has proven to be loaded this season, as President Tim Connelly has continued to prune dead branches and graft new growth onto the roster up to the NBA Trade Deadline.
Since that date, the Minnesota Timberwolves have played to a 13-13 record. Curiously, the team has struggled against bad teams but has held its own against competitive teams.