Minnesota’s preseason is less about wins and losses right now and more about figuring out how all these pieces fit together. That matters even more for a Timberwolves group that looks very different from last season’s version. The first real games together should come with some rough edges, but there are a few specific things worth watching closely.
The biggest one is how the offense is divided between LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards. Edwards carried too much of the load offensively last season, and that showed up on the other end, where his defense didn’t match the level Minnesota is used to. The hope is that Ball changes that equation by handling most of the playmaking and letting Edwards work more without the ball.
That means more chances for Edwards to attack as a cutter or spot up for catch-and-shoot looks, and less of the constant burden of initiating everything himself. The real question is how often Edwards is still the main on-ball option when he and Ball are sharing the floor. Ball has basically built his career with the ball in his hands, and he has never played alongside a scorer as gifted as Edwards, so this partnership is going to be one of the most interesting things to track.
Jonathan Kuminga is another major preseason watch point, but for a different reason. A lot has been said about whether he can actually thrive in a defined role, whether his production has been empty, and whether winning has ever been the real priority for him. Some of that noise came from the way his past offseasons were handled, but now he has a chance to change the story.
Minnesota brought him in because it believes he can defend on the perimeter, cut hard, and rebound at an elite level for his position. Those are all things he has shown he can do.
The issue has always been consistency in effort, and that’s what preseason should help reveal. His role should line up with what the coaching staff has already described, and it will be worth watching how he fits on both ends, especially if the touches and shots aren’t there in big numbers.
Then there’s the battle for the main backup wing minutes, which is much less settled than the guard rotation. Minnesota has plenty of backup combo guards, with Ayo Dosunmu set for a heavy workload and Terrence Shannon Jr. also expected to get a fair amount of run.
Donte DiVincenzo should get his share once he’s healthy, though it’s unclear when he’ll be back. Jaylen Clark and Bones Hyland are also in the mix, though both feel a bit on the bubble.
The wing spots are the real puzzle. Right now the backup forwards are Trey Lyles, Cody Williams, and Isaiah Evans.
Evans is a rookie and looks like the last man in that group for now, while Williams and Lyles each bring their own questions. Williams had a rough start to his NBA career, even if he flashed late last season, and he still has work to do before he looks like an every-night rotation piece.
Lyles was a steady bench player for the Sacramento Kings a couple of seasons ago, but he spent last season in Europe.
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 🡒]