Every NBA team needs an unconventional lineup that they can turn to in times of need, whether that's an All-Defensive lineup in a situation where you have to get a stop, or an all-offense lineup if the team is down and needs to find ways to score in bunches.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' version of this for the upcoming season should be a lineup where everyone on the court is a deadly shooter from beyond the arc, creating lethal spacing that lets Anthony Edwards attack at will while also wreaking havoc on the perimeter.
The interesting wrinkle in this lineup is that, in order to maximize it fully, it requires someone who may not even be in the everyday rotation to have a crucial role: Trey Lyles.
The advantages of Trey Lyles at the five
The lineup that I am envisioning won't be able to be fully realized until Donte DiVincenzo comes back from injury, so for the first half of the season, the Wolves' "death lineup" would consist of LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, and Trey Lyles. If and when DiVincenzo returns, he would theoretically replace Dosunmu.
With Naz Reid gone now, and Karl-Anthony Towns having been gone for a few seasons, the Wolves no longer have a true center who can space the floor. Maybe Joan Beringer can get there someday, but that day is not today or anytime soon.
Having a big who can space the floor is so valuable in certain situations, and the Wolves have had that luxury for years. Now they'll have to makeshift that part of their rotation.
Trey Lyles spent last season in Europe playing for Real Madrid, buthe chose to spend the season overseas instead of in the NBA. This year, he returns to the NBA as a member of the Wolves. Lyles has always been a solid role player, most recently as a member of the Sacramento Kings during their brief period of being good.
He's not a center; he's much more of a power forward, but he's the Wolves' best chance at a five-out offense. In his final year with the Kings, he shot 34 percent from 3-point range on 3.5 attempts per game. Those aren't world-beating numbers, but if he's surrounded by lots of shooting, those numbers should go up, as he'll get a lot of open looks.
The lineup I mentioned earlier has a real ability to run the score on teams quickly. Edwards and LaMelo Ball are two of the best shooters in the NBA. Dosunmu and McDaniels are elite on catch-and- shoot looks from the corner, and having Lyles as a pick-and-pop threat at the top of the key creates an offensive system that will be extremely tough to cover.
Overall, while people might not be thinking about this lineup much, it could be a secret weapon for the Timberwolves.
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