The NBA's regular season will be here before we know it. And prior to the October 22 start date, all 30 squads must cut their rosters to 15 active players. However, as is the case with every season, the initial 15 are unlikely to finish the season with their respective teams.
Unlike the majority of the association, the Minnesota Timberwolves' roster is well-established. The starting five will look similar to a season ago, with the substitution of Julius Randle for long-time big man Karl-Anthony Towns being the sole change. Although, the bench unit will look somewhat different from the last time we saw the Wolves in action.
Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham, Joe Ingles and Terrence Shannon Jr. highlight the newest reserves. Former New York Knick DiVincenzo is set to be a primary contributor off the bench after averaging 15.5 points per game in Manhattan a year ago. Furthermore, Dillingham is expected to be a difference-maker right away and play floor general for the second unit. Ingles and Shannon will compete for minutes at the backup small forward spot (although Ingles could realistically play some of the four).
The lone reserve holdovers are Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid. It's worth mentioning the young trio of Leonard Miller, Jaylen Clark and Josh Minott, but none of the previously mentioned players are guaranteed a spot in the nightly rotation. Alexander-Walker and Reid are primed to receive 20-plus minutes per game for the second consecutive season.
Despite how firm the roster currently stands, there are bound to be a few additions and subtractions as the regular season wears on. Below we've highlighted three players who won't last the entire season, whether it be an outright release, midseason trade, or contract buyout.
3. PJ Dozier
One of the lesser-known Wolves, PJ Dozier, joined the team in July following a year overseas. The 6-foot-6 wing appeared to be an up-and-coming player, as he excelled in a limited role for the Denver Nuggets from 2019-2021. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit Dozier repeatedly. A torn ACL in November of 2021 caused him to miss a full season.
The former Gamecock returned to action in January 2023, suiting up for the Sacramento Kings. Dozier only suited up for 16 contests in Sacramento before signing with Partizan Belgrade later that year. In his lone season in Europe, Dozier averaged 8.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 54 appearances.
Now, back stateside, Dozier faces an uphill battle to earn a roster spot. He'll ultimately compete with another newly acquired forward, Keita Bates-Diop, and a slew of youngsters and recent signees comprised of Josh Minott, Luka Garza, Jaylen Clark, Leonard Miller, Eugene Omoruyi, and Skylar Mays. It's assumed the first four make the opening day roster, thus leaving only one spot available.
Dozier's chances of earning a roster spot are slim. He may have the upper hand due to his elongated time spent with the franchise, but Minnesota could easily opt to stick with Bates-Diop or sign a soon-to-be free agent. With that being said, Dozier's chances of ending the season in Minnesota are unlikely.
2. Joe Ingles
Unlike Dozier, Ingles' opening-day roster spot should be safe. Ingles is on the back end of a long career, but his game has never been predicated on athleticism. The 6-foot-9 wing is a standstill sharpshooter and smart defender. Last season, 93 percent of Ingles' three-point attempts were assisted. And despite his advanced age, Ingles' opponents only shot 1.9 percent better when defended by the 37-year-old.
Ingles' floor-stretching ability will keep him around for a couple more seasons. Plus, the Aussie is an adept passer. Joe has averaged 3.0 or more assists per game for seven consecutive seasons. Even with a relatively low usage rate, Ingles can be an impactful playmaker—which is why the Timberwolves signed him.
Even though Joe is a useful rotational player, he's clearly on a downward trajectory. Ingles averaged decade-lows in minutes, points, rebounds, and assists per game. The 10-year-pro likely won't play every night and could be all but out of the rotation come March.
If Ingles happens to be phased out of the rotation earlier than March, expect a possible buyout. Typically, buyouts occur when a veteran wishes to play for a contender. While Minnesota is a full-fledged contender, there's reason to believe Ingles could be of more value elsewhere if players like Miller, Shannon or Minott surpass the veteran on the depth chart.
1. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Lastly, the most impactful player on the list, Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The 26-year-old is a fan-favorite who's developed into a steady contributor. The Virginia Tech product is all but guaranteed to play more than 15 minutes per game and potentially close games due to his defensive prowess.
Alexander-Walker's game has elevated from inefficient shot-chucker to a 3-and-D dynamo. Nickeil drilled a career-high 1.6 three-pointers per game at a 39.1 percent clip a season ago. The athletic swingman has come a long way after shooting less than 35 percent from three for the first three seasons of his career.
In addition to his shooting, Alexander-Walker has transformed into a fierce point-of-attack defender. Last season, Alexander-Walker's opponents shot nearly three percent worse when he was the primary defender. The 3-and-D wing ranked in the 81st percentile of CraftedNBA's Defensive Plus/Minus—an all-around measure of defensive contributions.
After receiving three articles of praise, there's good reason not to understand Alexander-Walker's placement in this article. Alexander-Walker's inclusion is because he falls under the "exceeding contract value" category. The 26-year-old is slated to make only $4.3 million this season making Alexander-Walker the 268th highest-paid player in the league.
Alexander-Walker is simply too good to make such a salary. While rostering the 6-foot-4 guard for less than $5 million a season ago was a steal, this season will be the final year of Alexander-Walker's pact. He's set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2025. Therefore, a midseason trade to extract value out of a half-season of Alexander-Walker is what would be best for the future of the franchise.