The Minnesota Timberwolves have turned what looked like a question mark into one of their strengths, and that success is about to create a problem Chris Finch would probably rather not have.
Minnesota’s bench has outperformed expectations all season, climbing to 12th in bench points per game. That’s happened even with the ripple effects of Anthony Edwards’ knee injury, which has forced the Wolves to lean on more depth than they probably expected entering the year. The result is a second unit that has helped keep the team afloat - and now has made the rotation picture messy once the roster gets whole again.
That decision gets even trickier with Donte DiVincenzo on the way back, and Terrence Shannon Jr. having missed the last two games with what has been described as a minor injury. With Shannon out, Finch has been using a nine-man rotation, though Cody Williams picked up a few minutes on Monday. When Shannon is healthy, that group stretches to 10.
The issue is that Finch has usually preferred tighter rotations during his time in Minnesota. So while the Wolves could be at full strength soon enough, it does not seem likely he’ll suddenly expand the group to 12. Someone is going to lose minutes.
The obvious names to watch are Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark, but neither case is simple. Both have made real contributions with Edwards sidelined, and both bring something the Wolves need.
Hyland has been producing at a high level, averaging 13.4 points on 52/41.4/75 shooting splits. He can get buckets in a hurry, whether he’s working off the catch or creating for himself. Minnesota may not need that scoring burst as badly once Edwards and DiVincenzo are back, but it’s still a weapon, and one that’s been too useful to dismiss lightly.
Clark’s case is built on the other end. He’s been a defensive menace, taking on tough point-of-attack assignments and allowing Jaden McDaniels to roam more freely off the ball.
The big question has always been whether Clark can hit open shots consistently. The early signs are promising: he’s knocked down 43.8 percent of his 3-pointers without Edwards.
If that holds, it becomes much harder to justify taking him out of the mix.
Trey Lyles is another player who could get squeezed. He doesn’t have the same obvious calling card as Hyland’s scoring or Clark’s defense, but he has been in the rotation before, and Finch clearly trusts him. He also fills a need as a backup big man, giving Minnesota frontcourt spacing and a steady, intelligent presence even if his game doesn’t jump off the screen.
For now, the Wolves still have time before Edwards and DiVincenzo are back, and that matters. If Clark’s or Lyles’ shooting cools off, or if Hyland’s inconsistency shows up again, the decision gets a lot easier.
Right now, though, Minnesota has too many guys playing well for this to be a clean cut. When the roster is whole, Finch is going to have a real choice on his hands.
In Other News...
Pelicans Injury Report Could Change Minnesotas Next Test
The Timberwolves next matchup could look a little different depending on how New Orleans handles its injury report. Trey Murphy III is listed as day-to-day with a patellar injury, while Yves Missi is out with a knee injury, giving Minnesota a possible edge in a game where the Pelicans available rotation may be in flux.
For a Wolves team trying to keep its footing in the early part of the schedule, any change to the Pelicans front line or wing depth matters. New Orleans still brings statistical leaders and enough talent to make this a real test, but Minnesota will be watching closely to see whether the matchup tilts before tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Return Could Change Everything For Timberwolves Contention
Ayo Dosunmu had plenty to say in a letter to Timberwolves fans, and most of it centered on what Anthony Edwards brings when he is around the group. Dosunmu praised Edwards trash-talking ability and competitive edge, framing him as the kind of player who changes the temperature of a room just by being in it. He also pointed to the intensity Edwards shows in practice, a reminder that the edge Minnesota leans on in big moments starts long before the game tips.
For a team trying to position itself as a real contender, Edwards absence from knee surgery has been the obvious storyline hanging over everything. Dosunmus message was as much about belief as it was about basketball, expressing optimism about what the Timberwolves can become once Edwards is back in the mix. The larger question now is how quickly that return translates into the kind of late-season push Minnesota has been waiting to make. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Finch Knows Exactly Why The Heat Look So Awkward
Minnesota has lived through the awkward first steps of trying to make two big men work together, so Chris Finch knows the learning curve when he sees it. The Timberwolves spent time sorting out frontcourt combinations with Rudy Gobert alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and later Gobert with Julius Randle, and even if the fit did not come easily at first, the group eventually found enough rhythm to make it work.
Now Miami is dealing with a similar early-season puzzle under Erik Spoelstra, and Finch sees the same kind of growing pains. The Heat have been trying to blend Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and the start has looked clunky enough to raise eyebrows, but Finchs view is that these things take time and usually come down to players getting more comfortable with one another. [Read more 🡒]