The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a busy offseason thus far. Of course, the highlight of their moves is trading for LaMelo Ball. And while they aren't done yet, it's still worth taking a look at where things stand now.
The biggest takeaway for me is that the Wolves' roster is better suited to complement Ant, most notably due to the arrival of LaMelo. With that in mind, let's go through each position group and take a look at what the Timberwolves' depth chart looks like as of today, July 12.
Point guard
Early projection: LaMelo Ball, Bones Hyland, Zyon Pullin (possible two-way)
The point guard position is where we see the most tangible area of change for the Wolves. After years of needing a point guard who can create for himself and others alongside Edwards, the Wolves finally got one in Ball. He also gives Edwards a true co-star -- something he's lacked over the past two seasons.
Ball is an All-Star-level guard who is both an elite perimeter scorer and playmaker. This is an element the Wolves have never had in the Edwards era and, in turn, LaMelo could help the team reach new heights.
In terms of both fit and talent, Ball is a massive upgrade for the Wolves. Likewise, trading for him proves the Wolves are finally maximizing the roster around Ant-Man.
As for the rest of the PG room, Bones Hyland is a quality backup and microwave scorer. He was a feel-good story last season and returned on a minimum contract. To reach another level, though, Hyland will need to be more consistent.
Zyon Pullin is currently on a two-way contract, but with the way he's playing in summer league, it's not out of the question that he'll earn a standard contract. While Pullin doesn't project to be an integral rotational player, he does project to be a rock-solid third guard.
Shooting guard
Early projection: Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Clark, Isaiah Evans, Donte DiVincenzo (injured)
We don't have to spend too much time on Ant-Man, as we all know what he's capable of. Regardless, it's worth noting that with Ball in the mix, he will have fewer playmaking and on-ball duties after having been overtaxed in this department last season. Per Cleaning the Glass, Edwards spent 52 percent of his time as a point guard last season. Now he can return to his natural off-guard role.
Despite the Wolves' loaded guard/wing room, Jaylen Clark is a candidate for a bigger role. The Wolves could use a point-of-attack defender off their bench with Jaden McDaniels shifting up to a power forward role. Clark has proven to be a high-end defender, and if his offense comes around, he could be a key part of Minnesota's rotation.
Rookie Isaiah Evans might have a tough time carving out minutes given the Timberwolves' depth and Chris Finch's typical hesitancy to play rookies. However, the 33rd overall pick is one of the best 3-point shooters in this year's class, which could eventually help him carve out some spot minutes.
Donte DiVincenzo is sidelined with an Achilles injury, but the hope is that he'll return at some point this season. Jayson Tatum's recovery offers some promise in this area. If and when he returns in 2027, DiVincenzo is primed to be the Wolves' sixth man or perhaps even reclaim a spot in the starting lineup.
Small forward
Early projection: Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., Josh Green
There's some level of overlap with the shooting guard and small forward positions. One could argue it's purely semantics in terms of deciding who is part of what position group.
In any event, I'm slotting Ayo Dosunmu into the starting small forward role. The recently minted $112 million man has the required size and length to defend bigger players if need be or guard opposing perimeter players.
Offensively, Dosunmu's creation and playmaking duties might take a hit with Ball in the fold. All the same, his spot-up shooting and ability to score in transition could become more important.
Terrence Shannon Jr. had a rocky second season, but he showed off plenty of promise in the playoffs. He is arguably the Wolves' most important bench player. Shannon has shown he can be a sparkplug bench scorer and aggressive rim finisher.
Still, he needs to show improvement as a spot-up shooter and defender to thrive as a complementary player. The Timberwolves are banking on growth from Shannon to bolster a Naz Reid-less bench. Given the Wolves' lack of frontcourt size, Shannon could also be forced to play some small-ball power forward.
Josh Green's spot as the third SF shouldn't fool you. If Green stays in Minnesota, he'll carve out some level of a rotational role as a 3-and-D wing. He is a solid low-usage complementary wing who could play a solid rotational role.
However, it does remain a possibility that Green is traded for a big forward before the season starts.
Power forward
Early projection: Jaden McDaniels, Trey Lyles, Enrique Freeman (possible two-way), Trey Kaufman-Renn (possible two-way)
Power forward is where things particularly get dicey for Minnesota. To be clear, this shouldn't be seen as a shot against McDaniels, who should adapt nicely to guarding forwards and his abilities as a rim protector can be utilized. Notably, McDaniels ranked in the 95th percentile for blocks per 100 possessions per Databallr last season.
The undeniable problem is that the Wolves have no proven rotational power forwards behind McDaniels. Trey Lyles played overseas last season. Enrique Freeman and Trey Kaufman-Renn are two possible two-way players. Yet both players' offensive limitations make their chances of cracking the rotation unlikely.
This part of the Timberwolves' depth chart is clearly incomplete. The Wolves still need to make at least one addition to be in accordance with NBA roster requirements. They remain in the mix for LeBron James, but if they can't sign him, bringing in a minimum player like Georges Niang or making a late offseason trade will be vital.
While the power forward position remains a glaring flaw, with Reid and Julius Randle out of town, the advantages of bringing in a co-star at a position of need are obvious. Furthermore, Randle's style of heavy isolation play and subpar shooting proved to be a poor fit alongside Edwards, and it was time for a change. The Wolves now have more floor spacing in the frontcourt alongside Rudy Gobert, which can open up opportunities for Ant and everyone else.
Without a doubt, this shows that Tim Connelly knows what it takes to maximize Edwards.
Center
Early projection: Rudy Gobert, Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky (possible two-way)
The Timberwolves' true center rotation remains unchanged. Even at 34, Rudy Gobert is one of the league's elite rim protectors. His ability to be a walking top 10 defense will be tested with the addition of Ball. At the same time, the playmaking upgrade that LaMelo brings could help unlock Gobert on offense.
Second-year big man Joan Beringer is primed for a bigger role. Despite only having two centers on the main roster last season, Reid and Randle took away opportunities from Beringer as this duo soaked up much of the non-Gobert minutes. Now, though, Beringer has a clear runway for rotational minutes.
Beringer's rim protection, defensive mobility, rim-running and general athleticism should help him adapt to this role. In limited minutes as a rookie, Beringer showcased his promise, but he still needs to work on his defensive discipline. Without a doubt, though, Beringer should be able to provide solid backup five minutes.
Having a true center on the court at all times could benefit the Wolves' defense in a major way. Need I remind you of the ill-fated non-Gobert minutes last year?
Rocco Zikarsky is competing for a two-way contract along with Freeman, Kaufman-Renn and Pullin. Only three of these players can earn a two-way contract. Pullin getting converted to a standard deal would make Minnesota's decision easier. If not, the Timberwolves will likely have to part ways with one of these young players.
The bigger picture here is that the Timberwolves have built a roster that's better suited to support Edwards, and as long as they land another forward, this could result in a leap from their already impressive standards.
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