The Minnesota Timberwolves are rolling into the 2026-27 season with a starting five that looks loaded on paper, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty baked in. Two new starters, a revamped bench and a few moving parts make this a tricky roster to project. Still, when you line up the names, it’s hard not to get interested in what kind of numbers could follow.
LaMelo Ball sits at the center of it all. In his first season with Minnesota, he’s projected to post 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.8 assists on 43/38/87 shooting splits.
The setup around him is as good as he’s ever had in the NBA, and that should show up in the efficiency. Rudy Gobert’s screening should create plenty of clean looks from deep, and Ball also gets an elite pick-and-roll partner in the middle.
With more talent around him, the floor should feel less crowded than it has in the past.
That shift could matter just as much for Anthony Edwards. The projection has him at 31.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 49/41/83 splits.
A jump over 30 points per game may sound aggressive, but it’s not out of reach. Edwards put up 28.9 points last season while working with a clunky roster and without a true point guard besides himself.
Now Ball should set him up with better looks, and the extra talent on the roster should pull some defensive attention away from him.
Jaden McDaniels is next, and the numbers point to a solid step forward rather than a huge leap. He’s projected for 15.1 points, 6 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 52/38/82 splits.
The idea of a 20-point breakout doesn’t really fit the shot distribution here, but there’s room for growth. With Julius Randle and Naz Reid gone, his rebounding should climb, and the efficiency he showed last season should carry over in a system that leans into what he does best.
Jonathan Kuminga is another player whose role should matter as much as his raw talent. He’s projected to finish with 13 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 51/35/73 splits.
The big question around him has always been fit, and Minnesota gives him a clear lane to settle into one. He won’t need a heavy shot diet.
Instead, the focus is on making the most of his chances, playing off Ball and Edwards, and bringing more effort on the defensive glass.
Rudy Gobert rounds out the starting group, and the projection gives him 12.9 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 66/18/64 splits. With Ball running the show, the offense should come easy for him.
He’s expected to get fed at the rim all year, which should bump his scoring. The rebounding will remain a major piece of his value, and the projection even includes a first 3-pointer from Gobert.
Ayo Dosunmu is set up to be the first name off the bench, stepping into the sixth-man role after Naz Reid’s departure to Charlotte. He’s projected at 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 50/42/87 splits.
Minnesota should lean on him as a steady scoring source, and that tracks with what he’s done throughout his career. After the trade deadline last season, he shot 50/40/90 with the team, and while matching that over a full year would be a tall order, he’s expected to get close.
Joan Beringer’s role comes with more volatility, but the numbers point to a useful backup center season: 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists on 64/0/68 splits. His first year handling meaningful NBA minutes should bring some rough patches, but his defensive rebounding and rim protection behind Gobert should help. He’s also shown promise finishing around the basket, and if Gobert misses time, Beringer could see some bigger nights.
Terrence Shannon Jr. may end up being one of the more important depth pieces on the roster. He’s projected for 9.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 47/36/82 splits.
His ability to draw fouls stands out, and his slashing should matter if Ball or Edwards are out. Injuries have already slowed him early in his career, but this season looks like one with a real role, and career highs across the board are on the table in his third season.
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 🡒]