Which Wolves player is most deserving of Towns' starting spot?
A few games into Towns' absence we have seen several players step up to fill the shoes of the star big man, but which one deserves the start?
By Carter Botz
The Minnesota Timberwolves have now played four games since the news came out about Karl-Anthony Towns' meniscus injury. It is not easy filling the role of an All-Star big man like Towns, but we have seen some players doing their best to fill the gap. Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have all made great cases. The question now is who should be that final starter in Towns' absence?
Reid is the Minnesota fan favorite and he's been electrifying this season. Averaging 12.7 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting from the field and 41.5 percent from deep off of the bench has been crucial to the Wolves' success this season.
Just because of his effectiveness does not mean he should start. Given the current roster, Reid is best fit as a spark plug off the bench. He can come in and give you a big boost later in the first quarter, against the opponent's reserves. He can even close games but is just not the best fit as a starter.
Alexander-Walker has played many different roles this season. He's done everything that's been asked of him. Given the current state of the roster, NAW starting would likely slide Jaden McDaniels to the power forward position which can work in some matchups but can leave the Wolves with a hefty rebounding disadvantage as well.
The athletic wing was very good filling in for the injured Mike Conley Jr., McDaniels, and Anthony Edwards this season, however plugging him into a combo guard/forward role alongside Towns and Gobert is much more effective than having him in with a smaller front-court. Barring no other injuries, NAW is still best served off the bench.
Kyle Anderson is who Finch has been deploying in the starting lineup as of late, but is that the right move? Anderson has been a consistent playmaker in his tenure with the Wolves, but so far this season, he's lost his confidence from deep. The offense has struggled mightily with both Andersen and Gobert on the floor due to poor spacing.
That being said, starting Andersen is probably the best decision as it forces the Wolves to emphasize ball movement and become a defensive-oriented team to start the game. The closing lineup can vary based on the matchup and could contain any of the players mentioned, but as it stands right now, the Wolves are best suited to continue to start Andersen in Towns' absence.
manual