For a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, getting younger and less-experienced players more playing time is simply not always the highest priority. The Wolves are a veteran-laden group, and Chris Finch has no choice but to lean heavily into the guys he knows he can trust in high-pressure situations as the team looks to weather the storm that is the scheduling gauntlet of the Western Conference.
There has obviously been some frustration surrounding this concept from the fanbase over not just this season but in years past as well. At some level, it's certainly understandable. You want to see young guys get their chance to make an impact, especially if they are someone the team has shown a clear investment in.
But as time goes on and we see what the Timberwolves are truly working with in terms of their young players, we can begin to see that there is a certain hierarchy when it comes to their youthful talent. Some players are clearly deserving of more court time, while others have shown less promise and should naturally be further down the pecking order.
This concept was first laid out by Dane Moore on his most recent podcast. His analysis was spot-on, and he ranked the Timberwolves' young prospects (24 years old or younger) as follows:
Tier 1: Rob Dillingham
There is not much question that Rob Dillingham brings the strongest argument to the table when it comes to deserving more playing time. He has looked NBA ready from the jump, and has made a real impact at times this season. His ball-handling and shot-making abilities are notable, and it is obvious why the Timberwolves were so high on him going back to draft night last summer. Dillingham gives more credence to the "play the young guys" stance than anyone else on this team.
Tier 2: Josh Minott
Now in year three, Josh Minott has slowly but surely blossomed into a guy who can play real NBA minutes, which was close to unthinkable not too long ago. He has shown flashes of being effective as a three-and-D guy, but has also had his struggles, especially recently. His inconsistency on defense is the biggest thing hurting him right now.
Tier 3: Terrence Shannon Jr.
The interesting case of an older college prospect in his first pro season, Terrence Shannon Jr. is certainly more NBA-ready than most rookies. With that said, there are still questions about his jump shot. He may not have the worst case when it comes to vying for more playing time, but the question is, who in the current rotation does he really deserve minutes over?
Tier 4: Leonard Miller
While he possesses promising upside, the fact of the matter is that Leonard Miller has still seen very limited NBA action. When he has played, he has still looked very raw and unrefined. There's probably not much of an argument for Miller to be playing anything resembling a legit role with the NBA club at this point. Let him keep developing in the G League, figure out exactly what kind of player he needs to be in the association, and go from there.