Cody Williams may not be sitting near the front of the Timberwolves’ rotation picture right now, but he’s giving Minnesota at least one reason to keep watching. Offense has been the issue, and the numbers make that plain: Williams has averaged just 7 points on 41.9/23.7/71.1 shooting splits for his career. Still, there’s a clearer lane for him than the box score might suggest, and it starts on the defensive end.
That side of the floor is already turning heads at training camp. Anthony Edwards singled Williams out when asked who has impressed him, and he didn’t hold back on what stood out.
“Cody Williams, I just love his defensive instincts," Edwards said when asked who has impressed him in training camp. "I think he could be really good in the NBA.
His care factor has to go up a little more, just showing it, like everybody knows he cares but just showing it. Like you get a stop, let somebody know about it… other than that he brings intensity every day, his defense is incredible."
That kind of praise matters, especially coming from Edwards. It also fits what Williams has shown so far. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he has the size teams want from a defensive wing, and there’s enough evidence already to believe the defense can travel even if the offense lags behind.
Williams doesn’t need to be a finished product to matter. He just needs a skill that coaches can trust, and right now that skill is defense. He can check different boxes there, whether that means defending point of attack like a jumbo wing, matching up with forwards, or creating disruption as a defensive playmaker.
The metrics back up the eye test. According to Basketball Index, Williams finished last season in the 81st percentile for matchup difficulty and the 76th percentile for perimeter isolation defense. Databallr had him in the 66th percentile for blocks per 100 possessions and the 63rd percentile for deflections per 100 possessions.
He’s not an elite defender yet, but the upside is obvious enough to keep him in the conversation. If Minnesota needs more defense on a given night, Chris Finch could have a reason to call on him, and Finch’s preference for defense only helps his case.
The bigger challenge is simply getting into the mix. Ayo Dosunmu, Joan Beringer, and Terrence Shannon Jr. are projected for sizable bench roles, which leaves the ninth or even 10th spot unsettled.
Williams is in that fight with Bones Hyland, Jaylen Clark, and Trey Lyles. At the moment, he looks like he may be a step behind Clark and Hyland, though Hyland’s emergence last year is a reminder that these things can change quickly.
Clark gives Williams a useful comparison point. Both are defensive-minded players with offensive questions, and that overlap could matter if Clark struggles early on offense or if injuries shake up the rotation. In that case, Williams could be the next man up.
The road to a regular role won’t be simple. But Williams has at least carved out a credible entry point, and if his defense keeps flashing in camp, he could start building the case for a real resurgence in Minnesota.
In Other News...
Joan Beringer Could Fix A Timberwolves Problem Fans Know Too Well
Joan Beringer enters his second season with a clear opening on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster: the chance to handle the minutes behind Rudy Gobert. For a team that has long had to manage the non-Gobert stretches carefully, that matters. Beringers appeal is straightforward enough for a coaching staff to appreciate. He brings athleticism, a promising defensive profile and enough presence around the basket to give Minnesota a different look at center when the starter sits.
The bigger question is how much of that potential shows up right away. Beringer is still a developing player, but his value could reach beyond simple backup duty if his defense translates the way the Wolves hope and his offense adds some easy finish opportunities at the rim. For a team built on making life difficult for opponents, even modest progress there could make a noticeable difference in the minutes that have too often been a soft spot. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Finch Sees One Early Sign Wolves Fans Will Love In LaMelo Ball
As Minnesota settles into the early stages of the season, Chris Finch has been paying close attention to LaMelo Balls fit and, more importantly, to the parts of his game that can sharpen the Timberwolves right away. The coachs perspective matters here because Minnesota is not looking for a reinvention so much as a seamless addition of talent, and Finchs read on Ball has centered on the idea that the guard can bring his usual style without being boxed into something unfamiliar.
The encouraging part for Wolves fans is the way Finch has framed Balls preseason work on the defensive end, where Minnesota has been searching for signs that his tools can translate beyond the highlight plays. With his length and awareness already drawing notice alongside Rudy Gobert, there is at least a real opening for Ball to contribute in a way that fits the Wolves identity, even if the full picture of his role is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Joan Beringer Just Gave Timberwolves Fans A Reason To Watch Him Closely
Joan Beringer gave the Timberwolves a useful look in their preseason meeting with the Bucks, showing why the front office is still intrigued by his long-term upside in the frontcourt. The young big man looked more comfortable as a screener and more dependable around the rim than he did as a rookie, which matters for a Minnesota team that is always searching for size and reliability inside.
The performance also came with a reminder that his development is still a work in progress. Foul trouble clipped his stint and kept him from building on the strong stretches he flashed, leaving the Wolves with the same kind of question they have had around him all along: how quickly can he turn promising tools into something they can count on every night? [Read more 🡒]