Time to give Timberwolves Tall Ball a fresh look
By Bret Stuter
The Minnesota Timberwolves invested heavily in their centers last season. Not only did the Timberwolves sign All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns to a Super Max contract, but quickly followed that up with a mega trade that pried All-Star center Rudy Gobert off the Utah Jazz for the hefty sum of four draft picks, a pick-swap, and five NBA players.
The results of the Timberwolves roster were a bit disappointing after the 2022-23 NBA season. While the Timberwolves did manage to return to the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Wolves were unceremoniously shown the door after Round 1. That was rather disappointing to a fanbase that hoped for better results.
Still, the Timberwolves front office did not panic. In fact, the team did not get discouraged whatsoever. The team doubled down on a Tall Ball strategy, emphatically extending backup center Naz Reid to the Timberwolves roster.
Time to trial Timberwolves Tall Ball again
While many rushed to rule out the Timberwolves’ emphasis on tall players as a misguided and failed experiment, the Timberwolves recognized that their roster didn’t gel last season because the players hadn’t had enough playing time to create the type of NBA chemistry necessary to win consistently.
That fact will change this year.
In fact, the Timberwolves front office more than doubled down in the offseason. With almost all additions to the Timberwolves roster this offseason, the player is taller than his predecessor. That doesn’t appear to be the work of a team that considers getting bigger to have failed last season.
What does Timberwolves backup center think about the roster this season?
Asked Naz Reid what he thinks when he sees or hears the whole "the Wolves are too big to work" narrative.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) October 16, 2023
“I think as far as KAT and I, I think we’re just in big bodies. We can play all over the floor. Defensively, we’re both getting better at it. And then, for Rudy, it’s like…
Naz Reid is very much a believer now. And that is just the beginning. The Timberwolves will have the opportunity to bring even more tall ball players online this season.
Is Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly onto something? Whether or not we believe him to be on track, he certainly seems to be confident. He was the architect of the Denver Nuggets NBA Championship. I, for one, am more than happy to be patient this season to see if he can replicate a similar championship roster for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Check out these Minnesota Timberwolves articles as well:
- NBA Rumors: Did Karl-Anthony Towns just audition for his next NBA team?
- Shake Milton cements Wolves role as he knocks Knicks around
- Who gets more Timberwolves PF minutes? KAT, Slo-Mo, Minott, or other?
- How does this team compare to the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves?
- Timberwolves decision over McDaniels’ extension could shake the future of the entire NBA
- Naz Reid: Timberwolves investment that is already paying huge dividends