Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has remade the roster in a hurry, and the result looks nothing like the team Minnesota rolled out before. The Wolves now project as younger, quicker and far more energetic than the group that was, at times, older, slower and flat.
If there’s one part of the roster that invites second-guessing, it’s the frontcourt. Rudy Gobert remains the anchor there, but Jonathan Kuminga still comes with plenty of uncertainty. Behind them sit second-year big man Joan Beringer, Trey Lyles and Cody Williams, all of whom will be fighting for minutes.
Even so, the concern may be overstated once the regular season gets rolling.
That’s because the Wolves’ frontcourt brings a different kind of value: versatility. The group may not be loaded with familiar names, but it can give Minnesota multiple looks on both ends of the floor.
Kuminga is the biggest question mark. He has had trouble finding a steady NBA role, has never been the most consistent player, and has often wanted more shots than he’s earned. Still, all signs point to him embracing his role in Minnesota and focusing on whatever helps the team win.
Beringer could end up being especially important when Gobert sits. He should give the Wolves a real rim protector and rebounder in those minutes, something Minnesota has lacked for most of the Gobert era. Naz Reid brought plenty of skill, but he was never a true center, and that made him a less-than-ideal backup option on the defensive end.
Beyond that, Lyles and Williams look more like fringe rotation pieces, but they can still matter in the right spots. Williams gives Minnesota a possible defensive look, with the length to bother perimeter players and help as a weak-side rim protector. Lyles, meanwhile, opens the door to a true five-out setup that the Wolves simply won’t have with Gobert or Beringer on the floor.
A lineup with Ball, Edwards, DiVincenzo when he gets healthy, McDaniels and Lyles would stretch defenses in a way that could be tough to handle.
None of these players are household names, and there’s no guarantee every piece works the way Minnesota wants. But for the regular season, the Wolves appear to have enough talent to absorb whatever questions come with this frontcourt group.
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Timberwolves Just Made Their Biggest Bet On Anthony Edwards Yet
The Timberwolves have taken a clear swing at reshaping the roster around Anthony Edwards, landing LaMelo Ball in a deal that sent Julius Randle, Naz Reid and future draft picks out the door. It is the kind of move that says Minnesota is not just looking for another good player, but for a better kind of partner next to its franchise guard.
Ball brings a different offensive shape to the lineup, one that should make it easier for Edwards to work with and off the ball while keeping pressure on defenses from multiple spots. Minnesota gave up useful pieces to make the trade happen, which is why the fit matters so much now, and why this new pairing will be watched closely as the Wolves try to prove they chose the right co-star for their rising centerpiece. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Face A Big Late-Game Test Around Anthony Edwards
Late-game basketball has become one of the Timberwolves defining pressure points, and the staff around Anthony Edwards is adjusting to match it. With Micah Nori gone to take the head coaching job in Portland, Chris Finch is revisiting how Minnesota handles the final minutes, when every timeout, inbound and matchup can decide everything. The Wolves have spent enough time in clutch situations to know the margin is thin, and the need for cleaner structure has only grown as Edwards role at the end of games has evolved.
Finch said he will be more hands-on in those spots, with Pablo Prigioni and Nate Bubes also taking on pieces of the end-of-game operation. For Minnesota, the change is less about replacing one voice than making sure the right details still reach the floor when the game tightens. Around Edwards, that means finding the balance between giving the star room to go make a play and having a sharper plan when the possession count starts to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kuminga Has A Timberwolves Chance He Never Found In Golden State
Jonathan Kuminga arrives in Minnesota with a chance to reset a career that never quite found the right shape in Golden State. His game has long carried obvious talent, but the fit with the Warriors never fully clicked, and the Timberwolves are offering something different: a more free-flowing offense that could give him room to be productive without forcing him into an awkward mold.
The challenge, of course, is that a better environment does not automatically change the job description. Kuminga still has to prove he can thrive as a complementary piece while building toward a bigger payday, and Minnesota will want to see how his energy, versatility and downhill style translate in a role that may ask for more discipline than freedom at times. For a player still searching for the right next step, this is the kind of opportunity that can matter as much for the long run as it does for the current season. [Read more 🡒]