When the Minnesota Timberwolves reunited with Kyle Anderson on the buyout market this season, it was a great story. Whether it was fans, players, or members of the organization, everyone seemed thrilled to have Slo Mo back. Now, though, he is entering free agency, and it's unclear if Anderson will be brought back.
Anderson's lack of 3-point shooting is a major problem -- one that caused him to fall out of the Wolves' playoff rotation, and it could make the Wolves less likely to re-sign him.Â
Anderson's lack of 3-point shooting could cause the Wolves to part ways with him
To be clear, I do think he offers some value to the Wolves, most notably in the form of defensive versatility and connective playmaking. Furthermore, he is a great leader and can likely be brought back on a minimum contract.Â
Still, Anderson shot just 11 total 3-pointers this year. While he converted on four of these attempts, he isn't a willing shooter, and this makes it hard to justify playing him in a meaningful rotational role, especially in high-leverage situations.
The Wolves are, of course, trying to catch up to the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. Their best chance to do so might be to lean all the way into their 3-point shooting, meaning every rotation player but their centers should be able to space the floor. Unfortunately, that's a glaring weakness in Anderson's game.
Minnesota is also likely to pursue a true point guard, which somewhat negates the need for Anderson's playmaking. These factors make Anderson's future uncertain.
If Anderson returns, it should primarily be in a depth role instead of a rotational role. The Wolves' bench showed improvement toward the end of the year, but was mostly underwhelming. This, in turn, made Anderson more important than he should have been upon his return.
After Donte DiVincenzo's devastating injury in the playoffs, the Wolves' bench once again became a weakness, and it's partly because Anderson wasn't able to provide positive minutes.
Other free agents will be prioritized
The Wolves currently have just nine players under contract, which on the surface level should open up space for Anderson.
Nevertheless, one of these spots will go to Ayo Dosunmu, another will likely go to Mike Conley, and yet another will be filled by a first-round pick. It's fair to assume the Wolves want to avoid the second tax apron, meaning they could opt to ride into the season with a 14-man roster. Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark could earn these final two spots. Hyland, in particular, should be a priority.
It's not that cut and dry -- there's a chance that the Wolves pull off a star trade, which could make re-signing Anderson easier. Declining Julian Phillips' team option could also open up space for Anderson.
But if the Wolves want to target a free agent with whatever open space they might have, it would make sense to target someone who can provide more shooting and a general scoring punch.
Overall, while it's far from a guarantee, there's a solid chance that Anderson's reunion with the Wolves will be a short-lived one.
Add us as a preferred source on Google