It was a bit of a shock when Cody Williams got the start in the Minnesota Timberwolves' latest preseason game against the New York Knicks. Jonathan Kuminga didn't play, but usually in that case, Ayo Dosunmu would slide into the starting lineup and push Jaden McDaniels to play power forward.
But it was Williams who got the start, and honestly, he looked pretty good. The box score doesn't pop out; he finished with six points, one rebound, and one block. However, he played his role near-perfectly and looked like a more-than-capable rotational player.
This is a welcome surprise for the Wolves, as he was the return in the Josh Green trade as a way to get under the second apron. The Wolves don't have a ton of playable forwards, so if he continues to impress, it's not crazy to say that he could find his way into reserve minutes sooner rather than later.
Cody Williams fills a need that the Wolves roster has
Outside of the starting forwards McDaniels and Kuminga, the Wolves are pretty starved for wing depth. Their options are Williams and Trey Lyles in terms of true forwards. Terrence Shannon Jr., Isaiah Evans, and Jaylen Clark are all wings who are better suited as off-guards. Everybody knows that Chris Finch doesn't play rookies, so the odds of Evans playing any meaningful minutes this season are incredibly slim, and using Shannon or Clark as a forward wouldn't be ideal.
The Wolves can't run a bench unit of all guards and Joan Beringer, so one of Williams or Lyles needs to be in the rotation for the depth to make sense. Lyles has been solid in the preseason, showcasing his ability to space the floor and provide another veteran voice on the court, but Williams' athleticism and defensive versatility could get him on the court more than people realize.
It was impressive that the Wolves were able to get Williams for Green in the first place. Williams obviously hasn't blossomed in his career so far, but he's still only 21 years old, and it wasn't long ago that he was one of the top prospects in the country at Colorado. His only NBA experience has come on a team that has tanked the last few seasons, which can't be good for development.
The Wolves offer a winning situation and a defined role where he can hone his skills. He could follow the Nickeil Alexander-Walker development path and shine in his role here. If he can become a genuine rotational wing due to the lack of them in the rotation, it would be another huge win for the Wolves organization.
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