When the Minnesota Timberwolves ended their 2022-23 NBA season, everyone who was remotely associated with the team knew that the job of building an NBA Championship-worthy roster was not finished. While the players on the Timberwolves roster overcame waves of adversity, nobody was happy with the way that the season ended. A second consecutive appearance in the NBA Playoffs, only to be ousted in Round 1, is not what the team planned.
But you have to learn to crawl before you learn to walk. And you must learn how to walk before you can learn how to run. And you must learn how to run before you can learn how to ride a bicycle. In short, accomplishments in life do not come by attempting something, and then benefiting from immediate success.
Are the Timberwolves about to go on a deep playoff run?
Right now, the Timberwolves roster is about to run and run hard. This team managed to scratch and claw their way to the 2023 NBA Playoffs, despite a novel’s worth of adversity. Along the way, the Timberwolves front office to not sit idly by and do nothing. Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, noted where the Timberwolves were most vulnerable, and made deliberate moves to shore up those weaknesses.
With the Timberwolves struggling with ball movement, defending the perimeter, rebounding, and scoring from the perimeter as some of the most egregious weaknesses of the team to start the 2022-23 NBA season, the Wolves front office executives had their work cut out for them. But if the perfect 5-0 preseason record is any indication, the Timberwolves are a far stronger team this season.
Let’s take a look at the current Minnesota Timberwolves depth chart.
Timberwolves depth chart
We have done some Timberwolves depth charts in the past. But this time, the goal is to highlight where the changes on the Timberwolves roster could lead to upgrades or downgrades over last season. The exercise is not intended to throw shade or accolades to former or current players.
Rather, the Timberwolves are seeking to assemble a team that covers all aspects necessary to win an NBA Championship. It was clear from the get-go that the 2022-23 Timberwolves depth chart fell far short of that mark. So, by comparison, are the Timberwolves any closer, on paper, this season?
Timberwolves backcourt
One of the challenges that the Timberwolves face is trying to align the timing of their point guard with the rapidly rising star of Timberwolves young shooting guard, Anthony Edwards. But that is not the only challenge. Let’s take a look:
- 4 Point guards: Mike Conley Jr. | Shake Milton | Jordan McLaughlin | Two-Way contract Daishen Nix
- PG Summary: The Minnesota Timberwolves are a far cry stronger this season at point guard. Unlike the start of the 2022-23 NBA season with defensive liabilities, the Timberwolves get a facilitator, defender, and mentor in veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. But the real upgrade lies in backup PG Shake Milton, whose 6-foot-5 stature allows the Timberwolves to get very tall in a rotational lineup very quickly. Milton is so good, that last season’s backup PG Jordan McLaughlin is not the third man on the depth chart. And keep an eye on developmental PG Daishen Nix.
- 4 Shooting guards: Anthony Edwards | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Wendell Moore Jr | (Two-Way) Jaylen Clark (injured, returning on/about January 2024)
- SG Summary: The Timberwolves added a young Nickeil Alexander-Walker at the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline, and he has given the Timberwolves much stronger defensive options from their 2022-23 roster. Wendell Moore Jr. enters his second NBA season, which could give a boost to his production as well. But the tale of the tape this season will be all about just how much Anthony Edwards has improved this season over last season. Many NBA analysts look for him to take a huge step forward, and I think that they are correct.
While the Timberwolves backcourt may find interchangeable roles for guards, the overall picture for the Timberwolves has improved considerably over last season.
Timberwolves depth chart (continued)
The Minnesota Timberwolves certainly feel the pressure this season. After all, this is a team that has invested heavily in the roster, and most specifically, the front court. While there is always a bit of patience needed for personnel moves to take root and bear fruit, that patience will wear thin rather quickly if the Timberwolves do not take a step forward this season.
But before you feel a panic attack coming on, that step forward will happen naturally and organically, simply by getting more than 29 games out of All-Star power forward Karl-Anthony Towns. And yet, the Timberwolves front office made some sneaky good moves to upgrade the frontcourt as well. Let’s take a look.
Timberwolves frontcourt
The Timberwolves frontcourt has a number of n
- 3 Small forwards: Jaden McDaniels | Troy Brown Jr. | Leonard Miller
- SF Summary: Will this be the year that the NBA formally acknowledges Timberwolves small forward Jaden McDaniels as one of the top defenders in the NBA? Despite overwhelming evidence to support the claim, the NBA honors seem to overlook McDaniels out of spite. Still, he has another year of stymying defense ahead of him. Perhaps this will be his lucky season? He is joined by a pair of very defensive teammates in veteran Troy Brown Jr. and rookie Leonard Miller. Both players give the Timberwolves incredible versatility this season.
- 3 Power Forwards: Karl-Anthony Towns | Kyle Anderson | Josh Minott
- PF Summary: If the Minnesota Timberwolves simply get 60+ games out of Karl-Anthony Towns this season, and nothing else changes, the Timberwolves should win 50 games. KAT is a tremendous contributor, and his absence last season in 53 games is perhaps the biggest factor as to why the team struggled so much. Both Kyle Anderson and Josh Minott return, and the Timberwolves should expect a more competitive season from Minott.
- 3 Centers: Rudy Gobert | Naz Reid | (Two-Way) Luka Garza
- C Summary: The Timberwolves extended backup center Naz Reid in the offseason, and in doing so have committed to enlarging his role to include minutes as a power forward and as a center. Some players simply do not respond to more responsibility, but Naz Reid does. I am keen on seeing what the Timberwolves do with backup center Luka Garza. Garza is a scoring phenom, but all too few ignore the fact that when he is asked to defend, he has stepped up in that regard in the past.MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES ROSTER SUMMARY
- Open roster spots – (1) 15-man roster
- Contract Summary (17)
(3) Two-Way contracts: C Luka Garza, SG Jaylen Clark, PG Daishen Nix
(14) Standard contracts: C Rudy Gobert, C Naz Reid, C/PF Karl-Anthony Towns, F Kyle Anderson, F Josh Minott, F Jaden McDaniels, F Troy Brown Jr, F Leonard Miller, SG Anthony Edwards, SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG Wendell Moore Jr., PG Mike Conley Jr., G Shake Milton, PG Jordan McLaughlin
The Timberwolves open their season against the Toronto Raptors. a team that played well in preseason and has their eyes set on a playoff berth this season. Of course, the Timberwolves have playoff aspirations this season as well.
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