The Minnesota Timberwolves' offseason has been defined by prioritizing continuity and their young talent. On a recent episode of his podcast, Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor offered an interesting perspective on the Wolves' offseason.
"With Minnesota last year, I thought a lot of the time [Chris] Finch was leaning on the older guys, O'Connor said. Like you didn't see a lot of Terrence Shannon, you didn't see a lot of Rob Dillingham. And they lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker, which is a loss. But the fact they didn't sign like this clear-cut vet, it says to me that Tim Connelly, the Wolves GM, is like ok, Finch, you have no choice, you are going to play the young guys whether you like it or not. Because these are the best options for you behind our starters. And I think that's the right approach."
O'Connor also compared the Wolves' situation to the Denver Nuggets' situation, where former general manager Calvin Booth was prioritizing a youth movement. KOC himself noted that this isn't a perfect comparison, but you can certainly see the similarities. Finch is more likely to buy into this youth movement of sorts, especially since he doesn't have much of a choice. Nevertheless, Finch is somewhat of an old-school style of coach who prioritizes winning at all costs and is reluctant to play young players.
Chris Finch seems ready to adapt his style
Finch's philosophy is understandable given the Wolves are a team with title aspirations in a loaded Western Conference. However, this upcoming season, we will have to see a more adaptable and developmental side of Finch.
The good news is that Finch appears to be buying into this philosophy. He has openly mentioned that the Wolves will be expanding their rotation and pushing the pace. These are two things directly connected to giving young players more opportunities.
Tim Connelly's strategy will benefit the Wolves' future
Expect Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Jaylen Clark to all have increased roles in the Wolves' rotation. After losing Alexander-Walker, the Wolves could have easily signed a veteran wing. However, not doing so reflects Connelly's belief in TSJ and Clark. Likewise, the Wolves have long been linked to veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon but have opted not to sign him. This, paired with the Wolves' deciding not to draft a point guard, shows Connelly's belief in Dillingham.
To O'Connor's original point, in many ways, this offseason shows Connelly's belief in the Wolves' young talent, but to maximize that young talent, he had to force Finch's hand. There's some divisiveness on whether or not standing pat was the right approach for Minnesota this summer. However, it will certainly benefit their future and the development of their young players, all of whom have shown solid flashes of their upside.