Timberwolves believe that they can win this year, but can they?

Reason III: Will injuries abate?

I don’t know if there is any scientific proof about NBA injuries, but I have to believe that the Timberwolves will do better in that category this year. There are some who would argue that an inflated rate of injuries in one NBA season will organically shrink the following season, due to a statistical principle known as ‘Normalizing to the mean.’

But that logic does not really apply, because the Timberwolves roster has new players and will be competing against NBA teams in a new order, while each team has a new roster as well. With so many new variables, no statistical rule applies. But there still seems to be a common sense factor at work, one that tends to make fans believe that injuries will not be as common as in the 2022-23 NBA season. For that, we must wait and see.

New faces mean new opportunities

But in the meantime, let’s not overlook the fact that through the 2023 NBA Draft and the 2023 NBA Free Agency market, the Minnesota Timberwolves have gotten stronger from top to bottom. This team extended both center/power forward Naz Reid, wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and shooting guard Anthony Edwards to long-term deals.

The team drafted a very versatile forward in Leonard Miller and a dominating defender in Jaylen Clark. And the team signed LA Lakers free agent forward Troy Brown as well as Philadelphia 76ers free agent point guard Shake Milton.

The Timberwolves roster is younger, more robust, and far more grittier and energy packed than that of their last season’s roster. Will that translate into fewer injuries? Perhaps, and perhaps not. But I do believe that if injuries occur this season, the Timberwolves will be in a much better position to overcome them and still compete at a high level.