It's already been a whirlwind season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they're only nine games in. From starting the season with three straight dominant wins to losing Anthony Edwards for two months, to the role players stepping up and taking down one of the best teams in the NBA, the Wolves have been through the wringer already.
Their depth has stepped up in lieu of Edwards' absence, showcasing that from top to bottom, they're one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. The Wolves rank 12th in bench points this season, and everyone on the team has been contributing.
It's only going to get better, too. Edwards will be coming back, hopefully around the start of the new year, and from the looks of things, Donte DiVincenzo will be back sooner than people think. If this team is capable of beating some of the best teams in the league without their best player and one of their best role players, it could get scary really soon.
Donte DiVincenzo's return should be getting talked about more
When DiVincenzo tore his Achilles tendon against the Nuggets, it was utter heartbreak for Wolves fans. Given how much time guys like Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard missed when they suffered the same injury, it threw DiVincenzo's entire future in Minnesota into question.
He was going into the last year of his contract, an extremely tradable contract at that, and personally, I thought we had seen his last game as a member of the Wolves.
But clearly Tim Connelly understands his importance. He's been around the team all offseason and during the season. He's even going to road games, and by the looks of his rehab, he'll be back a lot sooner rather than later.
This will be huge; he's the third, arguably second-best shooter on the team behind Edwards and LaMelo Ball. He's going to always do the dirty work and dive on the floor for loose balls, and his defense has become massively underrated.
Assuming he comes back looking like his old self, it would be in the Wolves' best interest to re-sign him long-term, considering he's made it well-known that he loves it in Minnesota.
They're getting an MVP candidate back too by the way
The vibes without Edwards have honestly been good. The team seems excited to play increased roles, and they all know that they have to share the ball and collectively replace Edwards' production, since one player can't do that by themselves. Ayo Dosunmu has excelled in the starting lineup without Ant, and having a player this talented off the bench will be a luxury.
Ant was on a tear to begin the season, averaging 33.3 points, including two games where he scored over 40. He's the best three-level scorer in the world, and he'll get back to doing what he always does when his knee heals.
The rotation will be a question for sure when everyone gets healthy, and Chris Finch is going to have to make some difficult decisions. Some players who are playing very well right now might be out of the rotation at full strength, but that's the nature of the beast.
Like people always say, it's a lot better to have too much talent than to not have enough.
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