Last season, Minnesota’s starting group came with a built-in warning label: the pieces didn’t quite fit, and the offense was supposed to wait until the bench stirred things up. That idea made sense at the time, with the front-court spacing struggling and no true point guard to steady the group.
Tim Connelly spent the offseason fixing those issues, and now the picture looks very different. The Wolves’ starters project as a unit that can actually flow together, which should help them avoid those slow openings that kept showing up and lessen the burden on an untested bench.
That’s why there’s a real case for this group to sit near the top of the league, maybe even at the top. With star power and role players who can all fit cleanly into what they do best, Minnesota has a starting five that checks just about every box.
A complete starting lineup has to do more than just collect talent. It needs to keep everyone engaged on offense, and with LaMelo Ball in place as the new franchise point guard, that shouldn’t be a problem.
That matters because when players don’t get touches or a clear role, the rest of their game can suffer. Minnesota saw that with Julius Randle over the last couple of seasons, and at times with Naz Reid as well. Both are gone now.
The other thing elite starting fives can do is adjust from night to night. Some games turn into track meets, and Minnesota now has the firepower to keep up and win them. Other nights demand a grind, and Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels give the Wolves the defensive backbone to handle that side of it.
What really stands out is that everyone in the starting group except Gobert has the ability to catch fire and swing a game on offense. That kind of offensive punch from multiple spots is hard to find. Jonathan Kuminga has shown that too, including when he went off against the Wolves in the 2025 playoffs while with the Golden State Warriors.
The New York Knicks are the reigning champions, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are part of the stiff competition out West. Even so, Minnesota’s blend of two-way balance gives this starting five a chance to stand with anybody.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Opening Night Rotation Leaves One Immediate Battle To Watch
The Timberwolves are about to find out what their opening-night rotation really looks like when they tip off against Miami, and the most notable change is up front. Jonathan Kuminga is projected to start at power forward alongside returning regulars Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, while new point guard Ball is expected to settle into a heavy workload right away. After that, though, the picture gets a lot less settled, with the bench group still very much in flux as Minnesota tries to balance continuity with a few new faces.
Ayo Dosunmu appears lined up as the top reserve and could give the Wolves a steadier second-unit hand, but the rest of the rotation is more of a live audition than a finished product. Joan Beringer and Terrence Shannon Jr. are among the names expected to get looks depending on matchups and performance, and Shannon in particular enters the season with his spot far from secure after an uneven preseason. For a team trying to establish its identity early, how those minutes shake out could become one of the first real tests of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Faces An Early Wolves Test Fans Will Be Watching
Jonathan Kuminga is about to get an immediate read on what life looks like in a Timberwolves uniform, and it comes against one of the leagues toughest frontcourt assignments. Minnesotas debut for Kuminga lands against the Heat, a setting that asks plenty of him right away because Miami brings size, physicality and a defense built to make wings uncomfortable before they ever get settled.
For the Wolves, the early intrigue is less about scoring punch and more about how Kuminga fits into the work around the margins, especially after some recent progress on the glass. His ability to hold up in the matchup at the center of this test could shape how Minnesota handles the rest of the night, since containing Miamis interior pressure is part of the larger formula for making the offense and overall rotation click. [Read more 🡒]
Jaden McDaniels Could Open The Season With A Huge Wolves Edge
Jaden McDaniels enters the opener with a matchup that looks tailor-made for him if the Timberwolves can get the look they expect against Miami. Minnesota has spent the offseason imagining how its wing group can tilt games, and McDaniels stands out because of his size, clean shot selection and the way he carried himself in last springs playoff run. In a game where early-season rhythm matters, a favorable defensive assignment could give him a real chance to set the tone.
The intrigue is in the personnel and the history around it, because this is not just any one-on-one look on the wing. The Wolves have seen McDaniels draw the type of attention that can swing an entire possession, and the expected matchup brings a familiar name back into the picture for fans who remember how physical these teams and players can get when emotions start to rise. If Minnesota is going to get an edge early, McDaniels may be one of the clearest paths to it. [Read more 🡒]