Minnesota is not a quiet state. The Timberwolves had a functional core going into this offseason, but by trading Julius Randle, acquiring LaMelo Ball, and landing Jonathan Kuminga at the end of the summer following an intense recruiting campaign that reportedly included Anthony Edwards making personal calls and team president Tim Connelly traveling to Miami for a four-hour sit-down, the team was virtually unrecognizable. For a franchise that spent three years meticulously developing something with the same group, that’s a lot of movement.
Minnesota’s projected starting five now appears to have been put together to garner the greatest amount of attention: Rudy Gobert anchors the middle, Jaden McDaniels plays small forward, Kuminga plays power forward, LaMelo Ball runs point, and Edwards plays shooting guard. On paper, it’s really difficult to match that lineup’s physical dimensions.
Together, Gobert and Kuminga provide Minnesota with size and athleticism at the four and five that are unmatched by most Western Conference teams. They have two of the league’s most inventive offensive players in Edwards and Ball. McDaniels, who plays a role that is often more valued in retrospect than in the moment, is undoubtedly one of the best wing defenders available.
The way the pieces actually fit together is what’s worth watching, and it’s also worth some skepticism. Both Ball and Edwards are players who perform best when they have the ball in their hands and room to move, but they have never shared a backcourt. There is a version of this in which they work well together, each able to relieve pressure on the other and carry belongings. Another version is one in which neither player consistently finds their best rhythm and the ball-handling load becomes crowded. A lot will likely be revealed in the first month of the season.
At least on paper, Kuminga’s position in this structure is fairly clear. He doesn’t have to produce for Minnesota. For that, they have Ball and Edwards. They need him to cut hard off the ball, run the floor during transition, defend physically intimidating forwards, and finish quickly when the chance arises. Given his strength and athleticism, that is a fair request for a 23-year-old. The most intriguing question regarding this team’s ceiling is whether he can withstand the temptation to do more, which caused friction at both Golden State and Atlanta.
The depth issues are legitimate and shouldn’t be disregarded. There is a significant void left by the loss of Naz Reid, who was perhaps their best bench player over the previous three seasons. Due to his torn Achilles tendon, Donte DiVincenzo is probably not going to play this year.
Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, Josh Green, and Terrence Shannon Jr., the players behind the starting five, are passable but not the kind of depth a championship contender usually depends on. Gobert in particular needs to maintain his health. The backup center position is so precarious that if he misses a lot of time, the entire system is put to the test in ways that the roster isn’t prepared for.
Observing all of this come together gives me the impression that Minnesota is essentially making a one-year commitment. There is a player option in the Kuminga contract; if things go well, he can depart after the upcoming season. Later on, LaMelo Ball’s contract situation will become even more complicated. Connelly was probably on a plane to Florida for a meeting rather than waiting by the phone because the front desk appears to understand the urgency. This team’s roster construction amply demonstrates its belief that it can now compete.
Perhaps this turns out better than anyone anticipates at the moment. Kuminga has always had the skill to be truly influential, Edwards is still growing, and Ball is a year away from playing at his peak. The question has always been context. For the first time in his career, he may be receiving the perfect one from Minnesota.
