The Minnesota Timberwolves' starting lineup has been set in stone since they signed Jonathan Kuminga, and they told him the starting power forward job was his to lose. After a productive preseason showing against the Detroit Pistons, Kuminga further cemented that he'll be the starting four.
However, the Wolves' bench is much more fluid and volatile. As of right now, the only guys who you can firmly pencil in for rotational minutes off the bench every night are Ayo Dosunmu and Joan Beringer. Once Donte DiVincenzo returns, that will make an eight-man rotation, but you still need more trusted depth to navigate the regular season's ups and downs.
This is where Trey Lyles comes in. Through preseason he's played well, and he looks to be in line for a rotational role this season at a position the Wolves are in need of production from.
It's looking like Trey Lyles will be in the rotation early on
After spending last season out of the NBA, playing for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague, Lyles inked a veteran minimum contract to return to the NBA with the Wolves. He was one of Tim Connelly's guys during both of their times with the Denver Nuggets, so a reunion made a lot of sense.
Still, Lyles is also a very steady forward and can provide a stabilizing presence on both ends, something the bench needs. During his time with the Sacramento Kings right before he left for Europe, he was playing solid minutes on the Kings' famous "Beam Team," where they were the third seed in the Western Conference and took the Golden State Warriors to seven games.
I also have a vivid memory of the Wolves losing a game in overtime to the Kings due to them running a five-out lineup in overtime, with Lyles playing small-ball center and killing Minnesota from 3-point range. Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr. aren't the most consistent players, and having a guy like Lyles in the rotation can prevent the bench from being so volatile.
He isn't going to put up crazy stats, but he'll hit the open three, be a solid multi-positional defender, and be a connective passer. His ability to thrive in different lineups will be something the Wolves can go to often, considering he can play anywhere from small forward to center.
As it stands pre-DiVincenzo return, the bench rotation will likely look like Dosunmu, Beringer, Lyles, and one of Hyland or Shannon, depending on who has it going that night.
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