From top to bottom, the Minnesota Timberwolves are absolutely loaded with talent. Despite only being two preseason games in, the starters seem to be gelling better than most expected. However, the bench has been extremely up-and-down, and for better or worse, that's what should be expected given how the bench unit is constructed.
Equal parts electric highlights and mind-numbing basketball is what you can likely expect from the Wolves bench this season. When things are clicking, it might be tough to find a more entertaining group of reserves. But when the opposite happens, fans will be pleading for the starters to be put back in the game.
If the Wolves truly believe that this team is capable of winning a championship (which isn't the craziest thing to say), they'll need to sort out the volatility of the bench to at least make it palatable.
The bench is full of boom-or-bust players
I would label Ayo Dosunmu as an extremely consistent bench player, and once Donte DiVincenzo comes back from injury, he'll be another stable presence. However, that's about where the consistency ends.
Joan Beringer's potential is sky-high, and he'll undoubtedly be a great starting center once Rudy Gobert ages out, but he hasn't even turned 20 years old yet, and as you can expect, that comes with some bumps. His growth in preseason is notable, but he's still fouling a lot more than you would like because he gets way too block-happy.
Then you have Bones Hyland. When Bones gets "bizzy", there aren't many more players in the entire league who are more fun to watch. I know everybody remembers the playoffs last season, when he crossed over Spencer Jones and proceeded to hit a 30-plus-foot bomb. But for all of the high highs, there are some low lows too, like the San Antonio Spurs series, where his shot wasn't falling, and he could barely see the court.
Terrence Shannon Jr. rounds out the Wolves' trifecta of bench volatility. Shannon is fearless when it comes to attacking the rim, and when it's working, he can look unstoppable. But when it isn't working, he often tries to force the issue by driving into numerous defenders, and it can result in a lot of bad offense and turnovers. Plus, he struggles to play off the ball.
The keys to limiting the volatility will likely mean keeping one of LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards on the court at all times. They are the best players on the team, but also the best at controlling the game. Ball is a natural floor general who makes everyone around him better, and Edwards knows how to stay composed in tight games.
Still, if Chris Finch doesn't want to stagger these two, the Timberwolves' bench will likely remain a boom-or-bust group.
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