With the Minnesota Timberwolves shaking up their roster this offseason by adding LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, there will be a gelling period. It's great that the team has spent a ton of time together throughout the summer, but building some on-court chemistry might take time.
And while the early portion of the regular season is where this idea of a gelling period will be most discussed, the preseason could give them a head start.
The Wolves take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night to get their preseason started. Look, preseason games aren't all that relevant or indicative of a team's regular-season success.
Still, getting some early time together in game-like situations will be beneficial for this new-look roster. This helps explain why head coach Chris Finch will play all of Minnesota's starters for their first preseason game, and likely beyond.
The Timberwolves can avoid a slow start by building chemistry in the preseason
After trading for Julius Randle in 2024, the Timberwolves' starters only played one preseason game together, as Randle recovered from a shoulder injury. Moreover, after trading for Rudy Gobert in 2022, he only played one game alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. In both cases, the Wolves got off to a sluggish start as they got used to playing with each other. Specifically, they started the year with a 16-14 record in the 2024-25 season and a 15-15 record in the 2022-23 season.
Are these slow starts entirely because of a lack of preseason reps? No, but it could be a real factor, and something the Wolves could avoid this time. Between the league's new rules, which discourage tanking, and the Western Conference being highly competitive, Minnesota can't afford to start slow, and the starters sharing the court in the preseason can help avoid this problem.
To be clear, I don't expect them to play nearly as many minutes as they would in a regular season game; perhaps they simply play in the first half. And with six preseason games, it also feels likely that Finch will eventually give the starters some rest to get a look at the end of his bench.
Regardless, getting some on-court experience during the preseason, even in low-leverage situations, can benefit the Wolves.
The Timberwolves' new roster has some moving parts
I'm bullish on how the Wolves' roster fits together. LaMelo's playmaking should help Anthony Edwards immensely. Last season, he was overtaxed as a creator and playmaker. Ball will also help unlock more from players like Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. The Wolves' roster is also littered with athleticism, speed, and size, which gives them a clear identity.
However, there are clearly some moving parts—with Kuminga's involvement being chief among them for me. The Wolves have a ton of offensive talent and creators, with Edwards, Ball, McDaniels, and Kuminga in the starting lineup. Heck, Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. are two skilled bench creators.
Given McDaniels' offensive growth, the Wolves can't afford to have him be the odd man out. In turn, Kuminga buying into a complementary role is vital. The preseason will give us a glimpse into how the Wolves will solve this usage puzzle and what exactly Kuminga's role will be.
Ball's playmaking and the Wolves pushing the pace in transition can provide a solution to this dilemma. There are a lot of mouths to feed, though, and it will likely take time for the Wolves to work these things out. Furthermore, Finch has discussed taking on a hands-on role; the preseason will help the Wolves adjust to the new wrinkles of this offense.
Ultimately, while the Timberwolves' starters playing in the preseason might seem minor, it could help them work through some of the natural growing pains that come with a new roster, which may pay off down the road.
Add us as a preferred source on Google