Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is well known for making big moves. However, Connelly's ability to excel around the margins is an underrated piece of his success with the Timberwolves. Getting Nickeil Alexander-Walker as part of the Mike Conley trade, signing Bones Hyland to a minimum contract, and drafting Jaylen Clark in the late second round are a few examples. Trey Lyles is the latest win around the margins for Connelly and the Wolves.
Frankly, not much was expected of Lyles when the Wolves signed him to a minimum contract in early July. Sure, the Wolves needed a power forward, but Lyles wasn't even in the NBA last season. Regardless, Lyles quickly earned Chris Finch's trust and has been a rotational mainstay.
Through eight games, Lyles is averaging 16.8 minutes, 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists on 48.6/36/61.5 shooting splits. Admittedly, these stats don't jump off the screen, but Lyles has made an impact due to his high basketball IQ and floor spacing.
Without a doubt, getting a solid rotation player on a minimum contract is a massive win for the Timberwolves, and considering the Wolves' depth concerns, Lyles has been a real boost.
Trey Lyles has proven to be a fantastic value signing for the Timberwolves
Lyles offers a nice combination of floor spacing and size. Having a big man who can space the floor opens up the game for everyone. Likewise, this allows Lyles to fit nicely alongside the non-spacing big men of Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer.
Another thing I appreciate about Lyles' offensive skill set is that he's a low-usage player. In the summer, Connelly talked about how important it is to have guys who can do more with less. Lyles absolutely fits the bill. Clearly, this less-is-more skill set was a motivating factor for Connelly when he signed Lyles. In fact, 100 percent of his 3-pointers are assisted. Given how much star power the Wolves have, it's wise for them to value this skill set.
Simply put, everyone in your lineup can't be a self-creator. You need guys who can primarily play a spot-up role and who can thrive without getting a ton of shots. Lyles can do exactly that, and in turn, he makes life easier for everyone else. And frankly, for a minimum-contract player, you are unlikely to find someone who thrives in a creator role.
Lyles is also a solid connective playmaker and doesn't make mistakes on offense.
Defensively, Lyles isn't stellar by any means. Nevertheless, he is pretty switchable and is always in the right position. This high-IQ skill set allows Lyles to make crisp rotations, and it's helped him earn Finch's trust. Furthermore, Lyles is a solid rebounder. He's not a natural rim protector or a defensive stopper, but all things considered, he's a solid defender.
Lyles' emergence has helped the Timberwolves have a deeper bench than many expected. Similarly, he's ensured that the frontcourt concerns haven't cost them.
All things considered, the Lyles signing has gone as well as the Timberwolves could've hoped for, and it's another great example of Connelly's ability to identify underrated talent.
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