The Minnesota Timberwolves significantly lack forward depth. Okay, that's a pretty obvious statement considering that Jaden McDaniels and Trey Lyles are currently the team's lone forwards.
How the Timberwolves will upgrade this flaw remains unclear, but to me it couldn't be more obvious that they need to address this need before the season starts.
Now, they are still in the mix for LeBron James, but it's starting to seem like the Cleveland Cavaliers are in the driver's seat for the LeBron sweepstakes. Likewise, despite the basketball intrigue for LeBron signing with the Wolves, it's always felt like a long shot in some ways.
The point is that the Wolves need to have alternate plans to fill their forward void.
Some people have pitched the idea that the Wolves will wait until the trade deadline to address this need. This might be what ends up happening, but not fixing this undeniable flaw before the season starts would be a mistake that could quickly backfire (even if they plan on making a mid-season move).
And when I say fixing this flaw, I'm not talking about another signing like Lyles. I'm talking about finding a forward who you can fill could about playing 20 or so minutes a night.
The Timberwolves can't go into the season without bolstering their forward depth in a meaningful way
Anthony Edwards turns 25 in August; while he's already had a ton of success in his young career, this upcoming season will be the first year of his true prime. Trading for LaMelo Ball clearly helped move the Timberwolves close to true title contention.
However, the trade also left them with a clear need for a forward. Look, I'm more than fine with Jaden McDaniels playing the four, but he can't be their only proven rotational forward; that's a death sentence for a team trying to contend for a title.
In an ultra-competitive Western Conference, this could cause them to fall behind the eight ball. Sure, they upgrade this flaw at the deadline, but there's no guarantee a move will be there, and it could be too little too late.
As such, the Timberwolves must find a way to bolster their forward depth before the season begins. If they strike out on signing LeBron, the Wolves must find a proven rotational contributor either in free agency or the trade market.
Currently, their free agency options are dwindling, but I wouldn't be opposed to rolling the dice on Jonathan Kuminga. A trade might be more ideal (and realistic), with P.J. Washington at the top of my list. This deal would likely require the Wolves to trade Josh Green and Terrence Shannon Jr.
Now, it's worth noting that the Wolves can extend the LaMelo Ball trade before July 9. Otherwise, they'll have to wait 60 days to aggregate Green with another player per NBA rules. Regardless, this gives the Wolves a path to addressing this need before the season starts.
There are other paths for the Wolves to pull off a trade, but trading Green's expiring $14.6 million contract is one of the simplest ways to make a move. And while it might hurt to part ways with Shannon, it would be worth it for a high-quality rotational piece at a position of need.
It might be tricky to find a dependable rotational forward in free agency or via the trade market, but doing so before the season starts is vital for the Timberwolves to maximize their title chances. Thankfully, Tim Connelly is as aggressive as any executive in the league, so he'll make sure to address this flaw with ample urgency this offseason.
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