The Minnesota Timberwolves’ missing power forward has been talked about plenty, and for good reason. Losing Julius Randle and Naz Reid to get LaMelo Ball created a clear hole in the frontcourt, and the obvious downside is that Minnesota will probably take a hit on the boards and have a tougher time with physical forwards.
But the bigger question is a narrower one: who, exactly, is built to make that weakness hurt?
There are teams that can win the rebounding battle against the Wolves. That part of the concern is real.
The more specific issue is whether opposing frontcourts actually have the kind of force and scoring punch to turn Minnesota’s lack of a natural power forward into a matchup nightmare. The list is shorter than it sounds.
In the West, the teams that will shape the conversation around Minnesota are the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Victor Wembanyama is always going to be a problem, but that’s true for everyone.
Rudy Gobert will still be the main defender on him, so from Minnesota’s point of view, the setup doesn’t really change. The Spurs also added Tobias Harris, though Harris is not the kind of player who should send the Wolves into panic mode.
The one wrinkle for San Antonio would be going big with Wembanyama alongside one of Luke Kornet, Tarris Reed Jr., or Jayden Quaintance. That could be rough on the glass for Minnesota, but those extra centers are not proven offensive threats.
Oklahoma City brings a different look. Chet Holmgren is expected to spend a good chunk of his minutes at the four with one of Isaiah Hartenstein, Aday Mara, or Thomas Sorber at the five.
Holmgren is skilled, but he is not especially forceful or aggressive as an offensive big. That makes him a less alarming matchup than the name alone might suggest.
The other Western teams that matter here are the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets. Houston has the most frontcourt size, with Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, and Alperen Sengun, and it is the only one of the group whose best player is a forward.
Even so, Minnesota has answers. Jaden McDaniels can handle Durant, while Ayo Dosunmu or Anthony Edwards can take Amen Thompson.
The Rockets’ lack of spacing also helps the Timberwolves.
McDaniels, in this view, is best used on the opposing team’s top creator, and that usually means a guard. Still, he can defend most forwards, including ones like Durant who are not built on brute force.
Denver remains manageable because Gobert gives Minnesota a chance to handle Nikola Jokic, and Aaron Gordon is only a minor concern in the larger picture. The Lakers, meanwhile, are more perimeter-oriented, which gives the Timberwolves a better path to containing them.
If there is a Western team that might cause the most trouble specifically because of physical forwards, it could be the Utah Jazz with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. That said, it does not sound like a likely playoff matchup, so even if Minnesota drops the regular-season series, that probably won’t matter much in the end.
Zion Williamson is another player who can bother the Wolves, but the New Orleans Pelicans are described here as a clear lottery team.
The East offers a few more names, though the stakes are lower unless Minnesota reaches the NBA Finals. The defending champion New York Knicks start three wings and do not use a true power forward. Jayson Tatum is still an elite forward, but McDaniels can absolutely defend him, and Boston’s backcourt is not strong enough to force Minnesota into moving him off the perimeter.
Detroit does not look like a problem because of its lack of spacing and forward play. Cleveland could present a tougher look with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but Mobley, like Holmgren, is not especially aggressive.
The teams that actually fit the danger profile are the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, and Indiana Pacers. The 76ers bring LeBron James and an elite backcourt.
The Raptors have Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes. The Magic feature Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.
The Pacers have Pascal Siakam.
That’s the heart of it: there simply are not many forwards with enough physicality and enough scoring ability to make Minnesota pay over and over. The Timberwolves’ lack of a natural power forward is still a real issue, especially on the glass, and it is something they may eventually need to address.
But as far as pure matchup panic goes, it is not nearly as dire as it first looks. The rest of the roster is close enough to ideal that they can still win plenty while carrying this flaw.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Suddenly Have A Real Jonathan Kuminga Opening
Jonathan Kumingas next stop may come down to opportunity as much as fit, and Minnesota has quietly emerged as a team worth watching. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Timberwolves have shown interest in signing the athletic forward, with the appeal tied to a roster picture that could give him a real chance to carve out a steady role and keep developing.
The financial side is more complicated, as the Timberwolves are operating with salary cap constraints and may not be able to sell much beyond a veteran-level deal. Even so, with other teams such as the Lakers and Cavaliers also looking for help on the wing, Minnesota could have an edge if Kuminga is focused on landing the kind of consistent minutes that let him settle into a rotation rather than chase the biggest offer. [Read more 🡒]
LaMelo Ball's Minnesota Arrival Just Sparked An Uncomfortable Privacy Debate
LaMelo Balls move from Charlotte to Minnesota has already become a talking point beyond basketball, with the Timberwolves guard settling into a new home as his belongings were transferred north. What should have been a routine relocation instead pulled attention toward the personal side of a high-profile arrival, after footage tied to the move began circulating and drew a mix of curiosity and concern from fans and observers.
The reaction also touched off a broader privacy debate, with former NBA player Michael Redd among those raising questions about how much of a players private life should end up online during a move like this. For Minnesota, the basketball fit is the headline, but the off-court noise has added an awkward layer to Balls first days with the franchise, especially with uncertainty still hanging over how the video came to be shared. [Read more 🡒]
Former Wolves Guard Rob Dillingham Is Running Out Of Time
Rob Dillingham entered the league as a high lottery pick for Minnesota, but his rookie year never really gave the Timberwolves a clear answer on what he could become. He struggled to carve out steady minutes or consistent production, and by the time the offseason arrived, it was apparent that his development had stalled enough to make his next stretch in the NBA especially important.
Now in Chicago, Dillingham has gotten more run and shown better numbers, but the larger question still hangs over him: can he grow into a meaningful rotation guard, not just a spark in short bursts? For Minnesota fans who watched the early promise get bogged down, this upcoming season feels like the kind that could finally clarify whether his game can catch up to his pedigree, especially with his shooting and playmaking still very much under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]