The Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting five no longer looks like the obvious weak spot it did a short time ago. The late-summer addition of Jonathan Kuminga changed that conversation fast, and on paper the first unit should be able to hold up against most opponents this season.
That doesn’t mean the Wolves are out of danger. The pressure point may be the group behind the starters, where the fit gets trickier and the margin for error gets thinner.
There’s been plenty of talk about Minnesota’s rebounding against double-big lineups, and that concern is real enough to keep in mind. But the counter is just as clear: Chris Finch wants his team to play fast and with enough athleticism to make bigger teams chase. The Indiana Pacers have already shown how speed and precision can punish a size advantage.
The more delicate issue comes when Rudy Gobert leaves the floor. With him out there, Minnesota’s defense remains elite.
Without him, the picture changes. Joan Beringer looks like a promising answer because of his athletic gifts, but the foul trouble is a real problem right now.
He averaged more than five fouls per 36 minutes last season, which led the roster by a wide margin.
If Beringer isn’t ready to handle those minutes cleanly, the Wolves’ frontcourt depth gets stressed in a hurry. That becomes especially important against teams that hunt contact, including the Los Angeles Lakers with Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. In a long regular season, or over the course of a playoff series, that kind of matchup can turn into a real puzzle.
The same kind of question hangs over the second unit on the perimeter. Minnesota’s bench can handle the ball and organize an offense, but against switch-heavy teams that bring a lot of athleticism, that strength could start to crowd itself.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is at his best with the ball in his hands, and Finch made that clear during Shannon’s playoff run, when the former Illinois guard was running the show. Shannon’s playoff breakout showed exactly how dangerous he can be when he’s the focal point.
But the Wolves also have Ayo Dosunmu coming off the bench, along with Bones Hyland. Dosunmu is comfortable both on and off the ball, while Hyland leans more toward being an on-ball guard. Put that next to Shannon’s preference for operating as the primary option, and the fit starts to get complicated.
That’s where Minnesota’s real question lives this season. Bigger teams will have nights where they can lean on the Wolves.
The starting group has enough speed and athleticism to answer back. But the layer underneath creates a different kind of problem for Finch, and how well that second unit holds together - especially when injuries force spot starts - may end up mattering more in the playoffs than it does in the regular season.
In Other News...
Jonathan Kuminga Is Now Pushing Back On A Warriors Contract Claim
Jonathan Kumingas contract situation has taken another twist, and the latest turn only adds to the confusion around what was actually offered and what was actually rejected. The back-and-forth has become a story not just about negotiations, but about how the messages from Kuminga and his camp have lined up, or failed to line up, as reports have surfaced about his options.
Kuminga reportedly texted Darren Moore, Lonzo Balls manager, to say he never turned down any offers at all. That directly cuts against the earlier framing from his agent, Aaron Turner, who had indicated Kuminga passed on higher-value possibilities, including reported deals tied to the Warriors and Lakers. For Minnesota fans tracking the broader Western Conference picture, it is another reminder that the offseason business around a key opponent can still shape the landscape long after the headlines first break. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Face A Tough Protection Call As Expansion Looms
With the NBA planning to add teams in Seattle and Las Vegas for the 2028-29 season, the expansion draft conversation is already forcing teams to think a little differently about their rosters. For Minnesota, the exercise is straightforward at the top end and messy at the margins, with six players looking like clear protection choices if the league were doing this today.
The intrigue comes with the last two spots, where the Timberwolves would have to balance upside, fit and roster stability. Jonathan Kuminga sits in that debate, but so do Terrence Shannon Jr. and Donte DiVincenzo, and the current version of the roster is only a snapshot anyway. By the time expansion actually arrives, Minnesotas priorities and personnel will almost certainly look different. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kumingas Wolves Decision Leaves One Lakers Question Hanging
The Timberwolves added another forward with the announcement of Jonathan Kumingas signing, and they even revealed hell wear No. 24. Kuminga arrives after finishing his fifth NBA season with stops in Atlanta and Golden State, and the move immediately stood out because he reportedly had other suitors in the mix, including the Lakers, Bulls and Trail Blazers.
What made the story linger was the money angle attached to the Lakers chatter, which had fueled the idea that Minnesota won out over a bigger pitch. Kuminga pushed back on that version of events, saying the deal narrative was not accurate, leaving the exact shape of the offseason pursuit and what was actually on the table as the part still hanging over the signing. [Read more 🡒]