The Oklahoma City Thunder trimmed some of their depth this offseason in order to duck the second apron, but they still sit in a different class from the Minnesota Timberwolves when it comes to bench strength.
Trading Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort made OKC a little more vulnerable, and that matters for a team trying to keep pace with the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. But even after those moves, the gap between the two teams’ second units still looks wide.
That’s the problem for Minnesota: outside of Ayo Dosunmu, there just aren’t many proven bench options ready to trust.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, still has a bench that can hold its own. Ajay Mitchell has already established himself as one of the league’s best sixth men, and Jared McCain showed he can survive in a playoff environment.
Both are in position to take another step in their third seasons. Alex Caruso brings exactly what OKC wants from a reserve - elite per-minute defense and the resume of a proven two-time champion.
There’s more behind them, too. Jaylin Williams, not J-Dub, had useful stretches in the playoffs, and his mix of physical defense and 3-point shooting makes him a clean fit as a backup big.
Kenrich Williams remains a dependable connective veteran forward, even if his playoff minutes have been limited. In OKC’s case, that says more about how deep the roster is than any issue with his game.
That top-10 remains sturdy, and it doesn’t even account for the group of unproven young players waiting in the wings: rookies Bennett Stirtz and Aday Mara, Thomas Sorber, who missed his rookie season because of injury, and Nikola Topic, who has barely played two years into his career because of an ACL injury and a battle with cancer.
If even one of those players pops, the Thunder’s depth stays elite. Based on their track record, there’s a real chance at least one turns into a useful rotation piece this season.
Minnesota has talent, no question. In starting-lineup terms, the Wolves aren’t that far off from what Oklahoma City can roll out with LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, and Rudy Gobert.
But the bench is another story.
Joan Beringer has the tools to become a solid backup center, with the athletic traits you want in that spot. Still, he won’t turn 20 until November, and year two could be a lot for him if he’s asked to do too much too soon.
Terrence Shannon Jr. flashed real shot-creation upside in the playoffs, which showed he can be a high-end rotation player. The catch is that he needs the ball, and on a roster packed with established talent, that role may be hard to carve out.
Jaylen Clark and Bones Hyland each bring something useful, but both come with obvious limitations. Clark is a disruptive defender, yet if his shooting doesn’t improve, postseason minutes could be tough to come by.
Hyland can score in bursts, but he’s erratic and his slight frame makes him a target on defense. Without meaningful growth, neither looks playoff-safe.
Trey Lyles adds some appeal as a floor spacer and skilled big, but his defense is a concern, and he was out of the NBA last season. Even his regular-season role feels unsettled, let alone anything beyond that.
The bottom line is simple: Minnesota needs a lot to break right just to build eight trusted rotation players. Oklahoma City already has that, and then some. If the Timberwolves are going to close the gap on the Thunder and Spurs, their depth still looks like a major obstacle.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Season May Ride On Two Role Changes Fans Can't Ignore
The Timberwolves reshuffled roster has created a few clear lanes for opportunity, and two of them could matter a lot once the season settles in. Joan Beringer is expected to move into a bigger reserve role behind Rudy Gobert, giving Minnesota a younger big man more chances to develop while providing the frontcourt with a different look when Gobert sits. It is the sort of change that can quietly shape a teams rotation long before the numbers on the page catch up.
Jaden McDaniels is the other name to watch, especially with the way Minnesotas frontcourt and scoring order have shifted around him. After a strong playoff stretch last spring, he looks positioned for a larger offensive load, which would ask him to do more than defend and finish chances as they come. For a team trying to stay balanced while integrating new pieces, the way McDaniels handles that bump could say plenty about how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves Are Giving Jules Bernard Another Chance To Force The Issue
The Timberwolves are taking another look at Jules Bernard, giving the free agent guard a non-guaranteed training camp contract as they continue sorting out the edges of the roster. Bernard has already logged NBA time with Washington and previously spent a brief stretch on a two-way deal with Minnesota, though he never got into a game for the Wolves.
The renewed opportunity matters because camp deals can still become something more if a player forces the issue in the right setting. Minnesota is not alone in making those kinds of moves, either, with point guard David Stockton landing a similar arrangement with Phoenix and likely heading to the Suns' G League affiliate after camp, but Bernard now gets one more chance to make his case in front of a team that has already seen enough to bring him back. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Fans Just Got A New Way To Watch All Season
Timberwolves fans looking for a simpler way to follow the team now have a new streaming option as Minnesota has teamed up with DAZN for live and on-demand access to games not picked up for exclusive national broadcasts. The deal also covers preseason action and adds more Timberwolves content through the service, giving local viewers another route to keep up with the club across the long season.
For fans in the Minnesota broadcast market, the setup includes several subscription choices and a free trial through the app, making it easier to sample the service before committing. It is the kind of distribution move that can matter quickly for a fan base that wants consistent access, especially when game nights no longer depend on the same old TV setup. [Read more 🡒]