The Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting group already looks locked in after the signing of Jonathan Kuminga, and the team made it clear the starting power forward spot was his to lose. Kuminga backed that up with a productive preseason showing against the Detroit Pistons, further strengthening his hold on the job.
What still needs sorting out is the bench. Right now, the only players who can really be counted on for nightly rotational minutes off the second unit are Ayo Dosunmu and Joan Beringer. Donte DiVincenzo’s eventual return should help push things toward an eight-man rotation, but Minnesota still needs more dependable depth to get through the grind of the regular season.
Trey Lyles may be the answer to part of that problem. He has looked good in preseason and appears positioned for a rotational role this season at a spot where the Wolves need production.
Lyles is coming back to the NBA after spending last season with Real Madrid in the EuroLeague, and he joined Minnesota on a veteran minimum deal. The fit makes sense for another reason too: Tim Connelly knew him well from their time together with the Denver Nuggets, so the reunion was hardly random.
What Lyles offers is the kind of steadying presence this bench could use. He can give the Wolves something solid on both ends, and he’s done that before. Before heading to Europe, he was part of Sacramento’s “Beam Team,” logging real minutes for a Kings squad that finished third in the Western Conference and pushed the Golden State Warriors to seven games.
There’s also a very specific Wolves memory tied to him. Minnesota once lost an overtime game to Sacramento after the Kings used a five-out look in the extra period, with Lyles at small-ball center and punishing the Wolves from beyond the arc.
That kind of reliable shooting and composure matters for a second unit that includes players like Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr., two guys who still aren’t the most consistent options. Having Lyles in the mix could keep that bench from swinging so wildly from night to night.
In Other News...
Bulls Have One Last Chance To Fix Familiar Problems
The Bulls get one more preseason look Friday night against the Timberwolves at the United Center, a final tune-up before the games start counting. Chicago is coming off a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but the bigger preseason themes have not changed much: turnovers still pop up, and the defense has not been as steady as the Bulls would like heading into the opener.
Minnesota is expected to rest several key players, which shifts the focus even more onto Chicago's own progress rather than the opponent in front of it. The Bulls are also hoping their frontcourt picture starts to clear soon, with some injured big men trending toward a return by the regular season opener, even as the roster still has at least one lingering absence up front. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves Just Created A Roster Opening Fans Will Watch Closely
The Timberwolves trimmed their roster to the regular-season limit by parting with five players, a move that clears the books and sets up a little more flexibility as the season gets underway. Enrique Freeman was among the cuts, along with Antonio Reeves, KJ Martin, Norchad Omier and Drew Timme, as Minnesota pared back after camp and worked toward its opening-night roster structure.
What makes the decision worth watching is the open slot it leaves behind, especially with the Wolves choosing not to rush into a replacement. Freemans departure opens the two-way spot for now, and the rest of the group is expected to be available as an organizational option if they clear waivers and head to the G League affiliate. In a season where roster edges matter, Minnesota has left itself room to keep adjusting. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Just Settled Their Toughest Roster Battles Before Opening Night
The preseason ended with a loss to the Bulls, but the more important business for Minnesota came after the final horn. The Timberwolves trimmed their camp roster, moving to 16 players ahead of the regular-season opener against the Heat and making the kind of late decisions every team has to make when the calendar flips from exhibition play to games that count.
Among the players on the move were Antonio Reeves, Enrique Freeman, KJ Martin, Norchad Omier and Drew Timme, a group that included some productive preseason shooting and a few hopeful depth pieces. The cuts also clarified a few bubble debates, with Isaiah Evans and Cody Williams hanging on while Minnesota finished sorting through the last of its roster battles before opening night. [Read more 🡒]