On paper, the Minnesota Timberwolves have one of the most explosive starting fives in the NBA. They have a great blend of elite scorers, lockdown defenders, and glue guys who can do a little of everything. However, on a team that has two new starters and a few new bench guys as well, there's a lot of unknown going into the season.
Predicting how players' seasons go is a tough ask, but it's interesting to see how the hype at the beginning of the season compares to how they actually end up playing.
For my stat predictions, I'm only doing the projected starting five, plus Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Joan Beringer. Everyone else is a hit-or-miss rotational player, and Donte DiVincenzo will likely miss at least half the year.
Starting point guard - LaMelo Ball
Stat predictions: 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 8.8 assists on 43/38/87 splits
This is by far the best basketball situation Ball has been in in his NBA career. Hence why I fully expect him to have one of his more efficient seasons while also setting a career-high in assists/game. Rudy Gobert's screening will free up lots of 3-pointers for him while giving him an elite pick-and-roll partner, and the pure talent around him will make his life on the basketball court a lot less congested than it's been in the past.
Starting shooting guard - Anthony Edwards
Stat predictions: 31.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 49/41/83 splits
Is predicting Edwards to eclipse the 30-points-per-game mark lofty? Sure. Is it also extremely feasible? Yes. Edwards averaged 28.9 points last season with an extremely clunky roster and no true point guard aside from him.
Now, Ball will set him up with more open looks than he's ever received before, and he'll have less defensive attention on him than usual with the upgraded talent on the roster. A two-point increase in points doesn't seem crazy at all.
Starting small forward - Jaden McDaniels
Stat prediction: 15.1 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 52/38/82 splits
There simply aren't enough shots to go around for McDaniels to have the 20-point-per-game breakout season that some people are predicting. However, an improvement on last season is still in play.
While I don't think a drastic scoring increase is in play, his rebounding numbers should increase with the losses of Julius Randle and Naz Reid. He showed a great improvement in his overall efficiency last season, and with the new roster catering to his strengths, that should continue as well.
Starting power forward - Jonathan Kuminga
Stat predictions: 13 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 51/35/73 splits
All of the chatter surrounding Kuminga is whether or not he has the ability to fit into a role. Minnesota offers him a perfect situation to do that. He's not going to be asked to take a lot of shots, just to make the most of the ones he's given.
I expect one of Kuminga's most efficient seasons this year, playing off of Ball and Edwards, as well as taking more pride on the defensive end and rebounding, as he hopes to solidify himself in the league in a winning situation.
Starting center - Rudy Gobert
Stat predictions: 12.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 66/18/64 splits
Offense is about to be so easy for Gobert with a playmaker as gifted as Ball is, throwing him the rock. He's going to be spoon-fed easy looks at the rim the entire season, which is why I'm projecting a solid uptick in scoring this year.
The rebounding numbers are always going to be high, but his elite rebounding will be needed this season more than ever. Also, in case you didn't notice, I do think that this is finally the season that Gobert makes a 3-pointer.
Ayo Dosunmu
Stat predictions: 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 50/42/87 splits
Dosunmu will assume the sixth man role in the wake of Reid's departure to Charlotte. I expect a lot of what Dosunmu has done throughout his entire career: efficiently scoring the ball at all levels. Last season, after the trade deadline, when he came to Minnesota, he shot 50/40/90.
While those percentages for an entire season are much harder to achieve, I expect him to come close to that mark this season as Minnesota's primary source of bench offense.
Joan Beringer
Stat predictions: 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists on 64/0/68 splits
Beringer's first season playing important NBA minutes is bound to come with a lot of ups and downs. His defensive rebounding and rim protection in the non-Rudy minutes will be a welcome sight, and he's shown some intriguing finishing abilities around the rim.
Standard backup center numbers are likely in play, and in the event Gobert misses time (which he rarely does), Beringer might be in for some big games.
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Stat predictions: 9.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 47/36/82 splits
Shannon is going to be pretty important for the Wolves this season. He might be the best pure foul drawer on the team. His slashing and on-ball scoring will be vital in the event Ball or Edwards miss some time.
He's dealt with some injuries early on in his career, but this season he's going to have a role, and career highs across the board are something I'm expecting in his third season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google