After waiving Johnny Juzang, it was fair to assume that the Minnesota Timberwolves would turn to the buyout market to fill their final roster spot, and they had to do so by March 1. Well, they took care of business early by signing Kyle Anderson, following a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The veteran forward spent two years in Minnesota from 2022 to 2024, and fans were hoping to see him return. Honestly, I was skeptical because a buyout with the Grizzlies didn't instantly happen. Nevertheless, bringing "Slo Mo" back is a perfect way for the Wolves to round out their roster, and fans are certainly delighted to see him back with the team.
Anderson's possible role with the Timberwolves
It's unclear if Anderson will return as a mainstay of the Wolves' rotation. Right now, Naz Reid, Ayo Dosunmu, and Bones Hyland are the fixtures off Chris Finch's bench. Conversely, guys like Joan Beringer, Jaylen Clark, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Mike Conley float in and out. Regardless, Anderson is still capable of providing minutes if need be, and frankly, the Wolves could benefit from his impact.
For the season with the Utah Jazz and Grizzlies, Anderson is posting averages of 20.4 minutes, 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Anderson's blend of positional size, playmaking, and versatile defense should give the Wolves a nice boost off the bench.
His defensive versatility especially gives him a pathway to earn minutes. The Wolves have a clear need for someone who can guard opposing forwards other than Jaden McDaniels, making Anderson a worthy addition.
Anderson's leadership also stands out as a clear reason to bring him back. If Finch doesn't give him any meaningful minutes, Anderson will undoubtedly handle this gracefully and uplift the team behind the scenes as a veteran leader. Plus, his familiarity with the team will help make this transition seamless for all parties.
If the Wolves need him to play some rotational minutes and he makes a positive impact, then great. However, if he can't, that's also fine for your final roster spot, and frankly, there aren't many buyout market options who could slide into the Wolves' rotation. Simply put, signing Anderson can only be additive to this team.
Ultimately, signing Anderson might feel like a minor move, but in terms of rounding out their roster, the Wolves couldn't have done any better.