How do you grade these 8 Timberwolves players as preseason winds down?

Concern: F Matt Ryan

While you may not think that it’s fair to grade the performance of forward Matt Ryan from a game in which he saw no playing time, let’s step back and rethink that strategy slowly. The Timberwolves coaching staff is making every effort to spread playing time among the players who have a stake in the 2023-24 NBA season.

Not every player develops at the same pace in the NBA. While some can show improvements in each additional game, others are a bit less suited for rapid improvement. One such slow riser is forward Matt Ryan, who has returned to the Timberwolves on his second consecutive Two-Way contract.

Matt Ryan is going to have his opportunities. But the fact that he did not see action in the Timberwolves’ third preseason game against the New York Knicks does not exactly bode well for him. Even guard Daishen Nix, who is signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, saw some playing time.

While I don’t believe that Ryan is at any risk right now of losing his Two-Way contract, I suspect that he will spend plenty of time commuting between the Minnesota Timberwolves and their G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, this season.  That may not be such a bad thing, as he will need plenty of playing time to develop this season.

Preseason Game 3 grade: Incomplete