Minnesota Timberwolves starting lineup: Locks, fringe, potential break-ins

Timberwolves: Fringe starters

Fringe starters are those guys that will probably start, but there’s enough doubt in their standing that it’s not a for sure thing. For the Minnesota Timberwolves, there are two players like this: Ed Davis and Anthony Edwards.

For Davis, he has been a solid bench player who’s shown some great skill in the big man role, especially defensively and when it comes to rebounding. And while the best seasons that he’s had have been those he’s started more than 10 games in, as well as his game seeming to pair neatly with Karl-Anthony Towns, there are still some questions on his fit with the team’s system.

Last season, Minnesota had the third-highest pace in the league (103.94) as well as the third-most 3-point shots attempted per game (39.7). Along with these, Minnesota also attempted the most 3-point shots in a single game (26). Not Houston, not Milwaukee, Minnesota.

At 6’8″ and 218 lbs, Davis isn’t horribly built for a fast-paced offense, but it’s not the system that he’ll thrive in the most. In Davis’ best season (2014-15), he was on the Los Angeles Lakers, who ranked 13th in the league in pace. In 2018-19, his last 82 game season, Davis’ Brooklyn Nets placed 11th in the league in pace. It’s also worth noting that this was the season Davis had his best field goal percentage, 61.6.

As for Edwards, the number one overall pick is a slightly better fit for the Timberwolves system, but he does raise some concerns of his own.

The biggest question facing Edwards is whether or not he can learn to play team basketball. Edwards is a great scorer, adept at finishing through contact, but the Timberwolves aren’t set up to play hero ball like his squad at Georgia was. Russell and Towns are too important on the offensive end to not be included, and Edwards’ playmaking ability has yet to be shown. If he can’t learn to play with the roster, inside Minnesota’s system, then Edwards may find himself on the bench very quickly.