3 Timberwolves who deserve more playing time after six games

Expectations are high in Minneapolis. Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves are 3-3 with losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, the season's beginning could still be considered disappointing. As for at least half of the association, a .500 start would be applauded. However, after a Western Conference Finals appearance and the emergence of superstar Anthony Edwards, there's a different feel in the Twin Cities.

The Timberwolves are no longer the perpetual bottom feeders they once were. Minnesota has compiled three consecutive winning seasons and is projected to secure a fourth. Led by Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Mike Conley, the newly acquired Julius Randle, and a fierce reserve unit, it's 50 wins or bust.

Speaking of the bench, the Wolves rank 16th in bench scoring, averaging 33.5 points per game. Naz Reid leads the charge, averaging 13.7 points per game. Behind Naz are Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Both guards are up to around nine points per game despite nearly a 25 percent difference in field goal and three-point percentages.

Although Minnesota is middling when it comes to bench production, the Wolves are the only team in the NBA to roster three players who average more than 8.7 points to not start a game this season. Sure, the previous statistic is an indicator of a strong second unit. But, if you did the math between paragraphs, you'd conclude that almost all of Minnesota's bench production comes from three players.

There's a need for additional talent off the pine. Minnesota has played a league-low nine players for more than 20 minutes all season. And that ninth player, Joe Ingles, has hit the hardwood for only 22 minutes. Furthermore, Ingles has yet to record a point. Instead of waiting for an injury to occur or relying on a thin rotation, it's time for the coaching staff to tap into its talented roster.

3. Luka Garza

After a new contract in the offseason and a stellar preseason performance, one should assume Luka Garza would see some playing time to begin the season. That hasn't been the case, as Garza has played only three minutes in one game this season. This isn't abnormal, Garza has played in just 53 of 164 games as a Timberwolf.

While Minnesota's loaded frontcourt has made it difficult to find the 25-year-old big man minutes, his per-minute contributions have been off the charts. Garza averages 27.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per 36 minutes. In the preseason, the former Iowa Hawkeye averaged 16.0 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 61.7 percent from the field in only 19.0 minutes per game.

Garza is deserving of a spot in the rotation, even if it's for only 10 minutes. His combination of size, skill, and brute force make defending Garza torture for opposing defenses. Garza will surely secure a spot in the rotation if Gobert, Randle, or Reid miss any time. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-10 center should be receiving playing time while all three bigs are healthy—he's too good to keep off the floor.

2. Josh Minott

Yet another preseason star on the list, third-year forward Josh Minott averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks across five preseason appearances. While Garza ranked seventh on the squad in preseason minutes per game, Minott ranked third, averaging 23.5 per exhibition.

The Memphis product wasn't necessarily guaranteed a spot in the nightly rotation, but it sure seemed like he'd receive more run. In the preseason, the athletic two-way wing demonstrated a well-rounded game capped off by an improved shooting stroke. It was known that Minott could get to the rim and rebound, but a lack of a reliable three-ball had kept Minott off the floor. That changed in the preseason, the 21-year-old looked comfortable from behind the arc, drilling 8-of-16 three-point attempts.

A terrific preseason performance doesn't equate to regular season playing time. But if October has taught us anything, the Wolves could use another defensive playmaker and reserve scorer. Instead of trotting out the 37-year-old Ingles for a couple of minutes every game, the Wolves could use the influx of athleticism and game-wreaking that Minott brings to the table.

1. Rob Dillingham

Perhaps the most obvious choice and easiest cop-out is Rob Dillingham. The former Kentucky Wildcats star is the only top-10 pick to see the floor for less than 10 minutes. Sure, Dillingham was the lone top-10 selection to be drafted by a team that won more than 42 games a season ago, but his talent is too tantalizing to keep off the court.

Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, knocking down 47.5 percent of his field goals and 44.4 percent of his triples at Kentucky. The 6-foot-1 guard didn't shoot the ball nearly as well in the preseason 33.3 percent), but he displayed impressive playmaking chops. Dillingham dished out 5.0 assists to only 1.0 turnover per game. Stellar marks for an undersized guard who averaged 3.9 assists per game as a reserve in college.

It's only a matter of time before Dillingham sees extended playing time. The Wolves points guards have combined to average 17.1 points and 7.8 assists while shooting a paltry 30.5 percent from downtown. It's early, but the results have not been promising. Conley and DiVincenzo are great players but have noticeable downsides. Conley is 37 years old, and DiVincenzo operates better as a shooting guard. Inserting Dillingham into the rotation would allow the 20-year-old to get his growing pains out of the way sooner rather than later.