The Minnesota Timberwolves have a clear top six in the pecking order: their starting lineup and Ayo Dosunmu. Their ceiling is high because few other teams can match their top-six talent.
It gets a little dicey for Minnesota after those six. Joan Beringer is probably the seventh man, but some inconsistencies are expected as he settles into a full-time role. It’s a concern for the Timberwolves, as nobody has clearly taken the second-scorer role off the bench during the preseason.
Ayo Dosunmu, and then who off the Timberwolves' bench?
Last season, the Wolves’ reserves weren’t very productive, even with Naz Reid often serving as their sixth man. They improved after acquiring Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls, but they were still far from having one of the better bench units.
Of course, Reid has been traded to the Charlotte Hornets, and Dosunmu is set to get the most bench playing time. After him, though, no player can be penciled in to score 8–10 points a night.
That’s not to say they don’t have anyone else who can score. Beringer is your classic rim runner who should get himself an easy bucket or two—or three—each game. He’s also turning 20 in November and has picked up fouls at prodigious rates during both his limited playing time last season and this year’s preseason.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is a gifted scorer. He also plays best with the ball in his hands. In the preseason, he hasn’t scored much while sharing the court with starters. There doesn’t appear to be a regular-season lineup that lets Shannon be the lead ball handler.
Bones Hyland has scored well during the preseason before a two-point outing in their penultimate game on Wednesday. Hyland was also removed from the rotation in last year’s playoffs. He’s only 26, but it’s hard to see him raising his ceiling much further, as his slender frame makes it difficult for him to score against more aggressive postseason defenses.
After that, nobody looks like a rotation lock on opening night. Chris Finch will probably play more than eight players, but even if any of Trey Lyles, Cody Williams, or Jaylen Clark sees the floor, it probably won’t be for long.
Zyon Pullin could be someone to watch, but he’s also on a two-way deal rather than a standard contract.
While their depth could be concerning, Timberwolves fans should feel relieved that Tim Connelly has never been shy about making a trade he believes will help the team. Bringing in Dosunmu at last year’s trade deadline helped shore up the lack of bench production outside of Reid.
It would have been nice if someone other than Dosunmu provided more preseason evidence that he can be counted on nightly once the stakes are higher in the regular season.
Color me intrigued to see how Finch divvies up the bench minutes in the Timberwolves' regular-season opener next Wednesday against the Miami Heat.
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