Will Minnesota Timberwolves’ Young Roster Be Successful?
By Deasia Paige
The youth of the Minnesota Timberwolves defines their strength, but questions are circulating whether the team can live up to the hype.
Good news arrived for the Minnesota Timberwolves when the team announced that former Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau would be the new head coach and president of basketball operations.
The combination of his defensive style of play and the young roster established a solid team, one to watch for next season. That young roster includes Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, the past two NBA rookies of the year.
Now, with the recent addition of fifth overall draft pick Kris Dunn, the roster seems to be getting stronger with youth.
But Thibodeau does not seem to be wooed by the potential of his team’s success yet. According to Andy Greer of Pioneer Press, Thibodeau said:
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"“We like our young core a lot, and I would say this: We’re also not fooling ourselves. We know we’re in a competitive conference.”"
The Timberwolves definitely have a lot of work to do. Last season, the team only won 29 games. This was due in part to their stagnant defense, which ranked them 28th overall in the league.
In an interview with NBA TV, Wiggins said when asked about his growth:
"“On the defensive side, especially with a new coach coming in, Thibs…..we’re all looking forward to it. With a new addition Kris Dunn. He’s a great player….defensively he’s great too, so that’s going to help us a big push.”"
In order for the team to buckle up on their defense, they would need more versatile big men like Towns on their roster.
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The physicality and ability to dominate on both ends of the floor of Towns, who averaged 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, led him to become the Rookie of the Year last season. The team’s recent plan to acquire Cole Aldrich from the Los Angeles Clippers is a step in the right direction.
Aldrich, who averaged 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds last season, is a dominant force around the rim and a great shot blocker. He will prove to be beneficial for the team’s defense.
Ranking sixth in the league in shooting with a percentage of 46.4, the team has definitely improved in their offense. But, that stems more from their mid-range jumpers than three-point shots. The Timberwolves ranked 26th overall in the three-point shooting last year.
In addition to Zach LaVine, who leads the team in three-point shooting, the Timberwolves will have to retool another piece to get their offense going.
The team has also acquired Brandon Rush from the Golden State Warriors. Though Rush has battled injuries during his career:
"“We’re excited to have him as well……The shooting was the main thing with him”, said Thibodeau in a free agency press conference over the weekend."
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It doesn’t hurt that Rush is from the best offensive team in the NBA, either. His offensive game will be able to significantly contribute to the the team’s success.
The Timberwolves’ most dominant acquistion though, Dunn, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Dunn, who scored 27 points in his summer league debut, has given fans a hopeful glimpse of what they could witness this season.
He has a lot of confidence in his game and rightfully so. Dunn can be aggressive on both ends of the floor while finding ways to make difficult shots.
With all of the recent acquisitions and how they can contribute to the team along with the new coaching staff, the Timberwolves have what it takes to be a huge competitor in the West. Wiggins also said in that same NBA TV interview:
"“We’re going to be a nightmare to play”."
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The only way that the team will be a “nightmare to play” is if they are able to adjust with the new style and flow.