Timberwolves see PG potential in Shake Milton

While the Minnesota Timberwolves may not have an obvious successor to veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. just yet, the front office is working on that. Actually, the Timberwolves roster may have their future point guard, but the addition was so subtle that few if any have noticed.

With a Timberwolves free agency signing of former Philadelphia 76ers point guard and shooting guard Shake Milton, the Timberwolves added a youthful veteran to the Timberwolves roster whose story and career have not been written just yet.  And that suits the Timberwolves just fine.

Unlike Timberwolves reserve point guard Jordan McLaughlin, whose perimeter shot has been in rapid decline over the past four seasons, Shake Milton’s perimeter shot has been impressive. But that is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of why he is a vital addition to the Timberwolves roster.

Shaking up the status quo

One of the predominant common threads to players added to the Timberwolves roster this offseason has been the presence of versatility. From rookie forward Leonard Miller, to veteran forward Troy Brown Jr. as well as veteran guard Shake Milton.

He is a master of the pick-and-roll, a key to optimizing the strength of center Rudy Gobert. But as he is given the chance to compete, he is also quite adept at filling whatever role he is asked to play. He

Shake Milton is a young player who has surprisingly flourished under the pressure. But he is also perfectly suited in a bench role, an area that has been an abysmal liability throughout the Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-23 NBA season.

Shake Milton checks all the boxes

Of course, the onslaught of so many injuries to key players not only pushed the team overall but depleted whatever bench strength the Timberwolves roster may have counted on last year.

Of course, a 26-year-old combination guard may not be the ideal position from which to launch a push toward an NBA Championship. But Shake Milton does give the Timberwolves time to add and groom a young point guard to the Timberwolves roster.

The Timberwolves retain the rights to Italian point guard Matteo Spagnolo, who currently competes in the Euroleague. Spagnolo will be available to arrive at the NBA for the 2024-25 NBA season, and Shake Milton can be the veteran who holds down the fort for the Timberwolves until Spagnolo is able to assume a larger role for the team.

Despite the diverse range of needs for the Timberwolves roster, Shake Milton checks all the boxes.  That not only means good things for the Timberwolves in 2023-24, but for the future as well.