Way too early prediction of Timberwolves’ 2023-24 starting lineup

There was a significant amount of change to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting lineup over the course of the 2022-23 season. The team made Jaden McDaniels a permanent starter at the beginning of the season, then dealt with a plethora of injuries to multiple starters all throughout the year.

With Karl-Anthony Towns missing over 50 games for the Timberwolves, Kyle Anderson stepped into a starting role for much of the year. After Minnesota traded away D’Angelo Russell at the trade deadline and brought in Mike Conley, the Wolves’ new starting lineup was solidified: Conley, Anthony Edwards, McDaniels, Towns, and Rudy Gobert.

Outside of that group, a total of six other Timberwolves players earned starts at various points throughout the season. Head Coach Chris Finch showed his willingness to tinker with players in different roles, and several guys showed they were ready for the moment.

Who will start for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2023-24?

While Finch will not be shy about changing up the starting lineup and throwing out different looks depending on a variety of factors, the general consensus seems to be that the Timberwolves’ starting lineup will remain the same as it did to end the regular season in April. Towns and Gobert will remain in the frontcourt while Ant and Jaden operate on the wing, with Conley running point.

One of the only scenarios where this would not happen would be if Minnesota decided to trade Karl-Anthony Towns before the season started. It does not seem that this will be the case, as the team still wants to see if the pairing of Towns and Gobert will ultimately work in the long-term.

But if they did bite on a trade to send Towns elsewhere, the Timberwolves would have to be very precise in their dealings to make sure his departure does not cripple them in the immediate future. Something they would have to elevate to an even higher priority would be their task of signing Naz Reid to a new contract.

The good news is that in the unlikely scenario Minnesota does start next season without Towns, they already had something of a trial run without him in 2022-23. Finch and his staff will likely already have a solid idea of where to plug and place certain players.

If no earth-shattering developments occur for the rest of the Wolves’ offseason, it is safe to assume the expected starting lineup will be rolling out on opening night. Given the fight they showed against the Western Conference champion Nuggets despite being shorthanded, Timberwolves fans have every reason to believe this group of players can achieve something special.