While it was announced last Thursday that Kyle Anderson would be rejoining the Minnesota Timberwolves after clearing waivers, the team officially signing him wasn’t announced until Monday. That will allow Slo Mo to be in uniform on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, and it's been reported that he is indeed active for this game.
His first game back donning the Wolves jersey comes against the team that waived him. Anderson only appeared in four games for Memphis, who acquired him in a trade with the Utah Jazz. The 12-year veteran wasn’t expected to have a long stay with the Grizzlies, who aren’t in any type of playoff contention.
Expect Anderson to receive minutes right from the get-go for his new (old) team.
Chris Finch has previously shown a lot of trust in Slo Mo
In the Timberwolves’ victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Chris Finch only played three guys off the bench (Naz Reid, Ayo Dosunmu, and Bones Hyland). It’s the first time all season that Finch only played eight guys in a game.
Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Mike Conley were among those that didn’t leave the bench. It was obviously a huge game, but was Finch preparing them all for a role outside the rotation once Anderson arrives?
As mentioned, Kyle has a previous tenure with the Timberwolves, which spanned two seasons (2022-23 and 2023-24). Finch definitely trusted him as Slo Mo averaged 25.3 minutes in the regular season and 17.6 in the playoffs in that time with Minnesota.
Now, Anderson is two years older than he was when he last played for the Wolves. He turned 32 before this season began, and he has been limited to just 24 outings this season, combined with Utah and Memphis. His minutes probably won't be as high as they were in his previous stint with the team.
While Finch may go to an eight-man rotation once the playoffs begin, as he has done for much of the prior two postseasons, he has gone with nine or ten for much of this regular season. Anderson is still a reliable defender and ball-handler at this stage, and I would be very surprised if he isn't a part of their rotation for the rest of the regular season.
It’s nice that his first game back with the Timberwolves will come at the Target Center. Expect a warm ovation from the crowd that remembers the important role he played for two years on playoff-bound Timberwolves squads.