For much of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves' bench was their biggest concern. However, since trading for Ayo Dosunmu and signing Kyle Anderson on the buyout market, things have changed. In March, the Timberwolves currently rank 11th in bench scoring; before that, they ranked just 23rd in bench scoring.
The Wolves are in the midst of a 1-3 slump. However, their bench has been a bright spot during this stretch, averaging 45 points, which is good for the eighth-best mark in the league. In recent games, the Wolves' bench has gone from their biggest weakness to their biggest strength.
While it's unclear if this trend will continue, it's clear that the Wolves' bench provides an extra sense of energy, pace, and intensity that the starting group lacks.
The Timberwolves' new look bench is a game-changer
Honestly, it shouldn't be that much of a shocker that the Wolves' bench has improved so much with the arrival of Ayo. Naz Reid has long been one of the league's elite bench players, but Naz alone isn't enough for a productive bench unit.
Ayo gives the Wolves an elite seventh man with a well-rounded skill set. He can spot up from 3-point range, attack the rim, defend, and playmake. The Wolves lacked all of these skills earlier in the league, and his ability to play at breakneck speed only adds to his impact.
Ayo has allowed the Wolves to be less dependent on Bones Hyland. This isn't a shot against Bones; he's been a flat-out revelation for the Timberwolves this season. However, he's an erratic player whose ideal role is as an eighth or ninth man.
Hyland has been solid in March, averaging 9.7 points while shooting 45.2 percent from 3-point range. His ability to push the pace and score in bunches has uplifted the Wolves' bench.
Regardless, at the very least, you can count on Bones to bring a high level of energy. The duo of him and Ayo has been more productive in recent games -- it's all connected to their energy and ability to push the pace. Reid perfectly fits into this style of play as well and remains the Wolves' best bench scorer.
Anderson doesn't totally fit into this blend of pace and scoring. Nevertheless, his feel for the game is outstanding, and his ability to provide stable playmaking and defensive versatility gives the Wolves' bench a nice wrinkle.
In short, you can never question the effort and energy of this bench quartet. That's something that can't be said for the starters. It's been a rough recent stretch for the Timberwolves, but in the long run, having a strong bench unit will benefit them, especially in games where the starters come out sluggish.
If and when the starters can break out of their recent slump, the Wolves will have one of the strongest rotations in the league, and their upgraded bench will be a huge reason why.