Preseason is over, and the NBA's regular season is nearly upon us. Following a four-month hiatus from meaningful basketball, the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on October 22 to tip off the 2024-25 season.
Prior to the regular season opener, the Timberwolves played five exhibition games. Minnesota won two contests while narrowly losing the other three. The Timberwolves handily defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and the Lakers before losing back-to-back road games against the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. Upon their return to Minneapolis, the Wolves lost the fifth and final game against their division rival Denver Nuggets.
Throughout the brief preseason slate, several notable storylines culminated. The most important one—Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle's integration into Minnesota's roster—showed promising results. DiVincenzo averaged 12.3 points in 22.1 minutes of action across four games while Randle dropped 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists in his lone appearance.
Other than the most pronounced storylines, many fans surely pondered what the reinvented reserve unit would look like. Following the departures of Kyle Anderson and Monte Morris, Minnesota's bench figured to look different from a season ago. The Wolves drafted Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. to rework the backcourt and added veteran sharpshooter Joe Ingles as Anderson's replacement.
However, 21-year-old forward Josh Minott made the biggest impression, averaging 13.0 points and connecting on 59.5 percent of his field goals. The former second-rounder is in line to back up Randle, or even fill Anderson's void as the primary reserve forward. Despite the resounding positives, several rotation hopefuls may have lost a spot in the crowded Minnesota lineup following a porous exhibition showing.
3 Timberwolves who failed to make an impression in preseason
3. Jaylen Clark
Jaylen Clark's journey to the NBA hasn't been easy. The former UCLA Bruin tore his Achilles in the college, thus eliminating any possibility of suiting up in 2023-24. Clark spent his rookie season rehabbing his injury and aiming for a return to action in 2024. The 6-foot-4 guard returned in the Summer League, averaging 3.8 points and 2.8 steals per game in 18.1 minutes.
Although Clark's numbers weren't overly encouraging, his defense looked as advertised. The former Naismith Defensive Player of the Year is already one of the best perimeter defenders on Minnesota's roster. However, Clark's offensive game is lacking. Jaylen scored 15 points in the Summer League, making only 6-of-25 attempts from the field and 2-of-9 shots from three.
The preseason gave an extended glimpse into Clark's progression post-injury. Even though the 23-year-old saw the floor, his playing time was limited. Clark averaged just 4.0 points in 11.0 minutes per contest.
Minnesota is especially deep in the backcourt, meaning Clark must make a considerable impact to see the hardwood. While his defense is his pass to playing time, finding his groove on offense is of the essence. Clark hasn't been able to break into the rotation yet, which means he'll spend most of his rookie season suiting up for the Iowa Wolves.
2. Joe Ingles
Affected by Josh Minott's rise, Ingles' once-solidified spot in the rotation now appears murky. Minnesota brought in the former teammate of Conley and Gobert to replace Anderson and provide much-needed shooting off the bench.
Unfortunately for Ingles, Minott has made the most of the exhibition season—showcasing a much improved outside shot. Across Minott's appearances between the Timberwolves and the Iowa Wolves last season, he shot 6-of-21 from beyond the arc. This preseason alone, the third-year pro is 8-of-16 from downtown.
Minnesota's need for Ingles' contributions isn't null, shooting is always valuable, but Minott's newfound marksmanship could relegate Ingles to third-string responsibilities. If Minott continues to knock down three-pointers at a high clip, his activity level and versatility trump what Ingles brings to the table.
Ingles did average 13.4 minutes per game this preseason. However, that ranked 13th on the team. Additionally, the Wolves were without Randle for four games, and several other rotation players missed time. The lefty sharpshooter was brought in to fill a void, but he's seemingly been replaced by a player already on the roster.
1. Leonard Miller
Another player affected by Minott's rise, Leonard Miller now appears to be a cut candidate. The 6-foot-10 forward was sure to compete for the reserve power forward spot. He led the Timberwolves' Summer League team in scoring and appeared to be in line for a sophomore ascension.
Oddly enough, Miller only participated in four of five preseason games and failed to make a difference. The former G-League Ignite star averaged just 12.3 minutes, 5.3 points, and 4.5 rebounds across four contests. Furthermore, it's become evident that the coaching staff feels Miller is best suited as a small-ball five instead of a full-time forward.
Perhaps Miller's development has stagnated, or the coaches haven't found a position where the Canadian forward can succeed. Whatever the reasoning, Miller's preseason has been a disappointment. Leonard likely suits up more often in the G-League than in the NBA this season—an unexpected development considering Minnesota's need for a backup four combined with Miller's strong Summer League play.