Amid the Minnesota Timberwolves' need for a power forward, one option could have been to re-sign Kyle Anderson. Now, though, fans can cross this possibility off the list, as per Shams Charania, Anderson is signing a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors.
The Timberwolves landing a higher-end power forward is more likely
On one hand, Anderson isn't a sizable loss for the Wolves, and they need to find a higher-end option to bolster their forward depth alongside Jaden McDaniels. Anderson's playmaking and general versatility make him a solid player to earn spot rotation minutes.
Nevertheless, Anderson's lack of shooting makes him a clunky fit with a roster that now features two non-spacing big men. This, paired with his lack of general scoring, limits his playability in high-leverage situations, which is exactly why he couldn't be the Wolves' power forward solution.
With Anderson not returning and Kenrich Williams re-signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Wolves can now focus on filling their power forward position via the trade market. Hopefully, this leads to them finding a starting-caliber player such as P.J. Washington.
A trade of some level involving Josh Green is starting to feel inevitable, particularly after Anderson's departure to Toronto. Given their lack of spending power, this could be their only path to solving their power forward void.
Anderson was a key veteran leader
That's the good news. Here's the bad news: Anderson was an amazing veteran leader. I know, this isn't as substantial as the basketball side of things. Regardless, without Anderson, Mike Conley and Joe Ingles, Minnesota is devoid of veteran leadership. This could be a problem.
Suddenly, Rudy Gobert is now the Wolves' lone player who is in their 30s. He's a good leader and consummate professional. Donte DiVincenzo is 29, and he's another good leader. Anthony Edwards has grown in this department in recent years.
Moreover, the Wolves' collective playoff experience should be enough to overcome their seeming lack of veteran leaders. Still, there's no denying that losing those three veteran leaders will cause some changes, and this could be harmful for a team that's struggled with regular season consistency.
Listen, I will sacrifice the risk of losing some of this veteran leadership in favor of some more talent and long-term upside. Again, hopefully, this results in a trade for a rock-solid power forward -- this would surely help limit the concerns about the Wolves losing three of their crucial veteran leaders.
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