How will the Minnesota Timberwolves solve the usage puzzle? That's one of the more difficult questions looming over the team ahead of the season. With Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Wolves have a ton of established players who thrive with the ball in their hands. While he's not an established player, Terrence Shannon Jr. could be included in this group, as last season it became abundantly clear that he's better on the ball than off the ball.
The point is that the Timberwolves have a lot of mouths to feed on offense, and there's a chance that someone gets left out. McDaniels is one player who could unfortunately see a diminished role. Coming off a season where McDaniels averaged a career-best 14.8 points and scaled up in the playoffs, averaging 16.3 points, he must be empowered in the offense. Regardless, the Wolves' roster makes that challenging, especially with Kuminga in the mix.
On the bright side, the Timberwolves are primed to lean into a faster pace this season, which, paired with Ball's playmaking, could naturally solve their usage puzzle. Chris Finch discussed this in a recent interview with Britt Robson of MinnPost.
"I also feel that, with the pace of play and style of play, there will be more (opportunities)," Finch said. "Mike wasn’t a throw-ahead guy (naturally stimulating transition) like LaMelo is. So organically we expect some more opportunities to land in Jaden’s lap."
Playing faster can ensure that everyone has ample scoring opportunities
Last season, the Timberwolves ranked 10th in pace and finally made an effort to get out in transition more. With LaMelo and Kuminga in the fold (and Randle gone), this trend is only set to continue. Getting out in transition naturally creates opportunities for everyone on the team, while giving the Wolves a clear offensive identity. Conversely, more half-court offense comes with more structure, which limits opportunities for some players.
Playing faster will help McDaniels and Kuminga specifically. Both players will naturally have fewer opportunities in the half-court, given the heavy usage Ant and LaMelo dictate. Still, they both thrive on getting out in transition given their athleticism. Notably, per Basketball Index, McDaniels ranked in the 98th percentile for transition frequency impact last season. LaMelo's willingness to play fast, look for his teammates, and push the ball ahead will help ensure easy looks for these players in transition.
Ayo and Shannon are two players who thrive in transition. Honestly, Dosunmu set the tone for the Wolves from a pace standpoint after landing in Minnesota at the deadline, and with him leading the second unit, this will continue. Amid concerns about Shannon's offensive role, the Timberwolves getting out in transition more can naturally unlock scoring opportunities for him.
In 2025, the Indiana Pacers made a magical Finals run. Their fast-paced style and egalitarian offense were at the center of their identity. What the Timberwolves can learn from the Pacers is that playing fast leads to everyone being involved.
I've mostly focused on the importance of transition. However, playing at a faster tempo and making quicker decisions in the half-court can also naturally create opportunities for others.
To maximize the offensive talent throughout the roster and ensure that everyone has ample scoring opportunities, playing faster will be vital. In the end, this may solve Minnesota's looming usage dilemma.
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