Constructing the Timberwolves rotation

[Klomp]

McDaniels as a SF and Edwards not. I think you got that wrong. You always think we want to go smaller at those positions. So according to your usual logic we would want Edwards at the SF and McDaniels at the PF. One of us was suggesting that Edwards would be playing some PF this season.

You're confusing sublineups with the regular depth chart. There will be SF minutes for Edwards.

You didn't list Edwards among the SF candidates as far as I can see. That is what I was going by.

There will be plenty of times when they run out lineups with two PGs and a SG, or a PG and two SGs. In those situations, Edwards would be the SF.

[wolves_89]

I am really excited to see the rebuilt Wolves roster and to finally start getting some clarity about the future. There are a number of questions that need to be answered including:

1. Will Culver and/or Okogie be able to hit open shots. For those two the difference between being a high end role player and just another bench guy is the ability to make 3s at an average or better rate.
2. Can Vanderbilt turn potential into production. The way the roster is constructed there will be plenty of PF opportunities for a player who can defend and rebound at a high level.
3. How fast will Edwards adapt to the NBA level. The speed at which he figures things out will have a big impact on the timeline for the team.
4. Can Towns, Russell, Beasley, and Hernangomez become average team defenders. The group is almost certain to provide high level offense, and if they could couple that with average defense the team might be better than expected.
5. How will the SG/SF rotation shake out. Russell, Rubio, and Beasley are going to get their minutes, the question is how will the rest of the minutes be distributed between Edwards, Culver, and Okogie.

[Klomp]

Really when you think about it, with the exception of adding rookies and swapping some veteran mentorship (Johnson for Rubio and Davis) they are essentially running back the same group that they assembled last deadline. Always figured there was a strong possibility this might happen, considering we really didn't get a chance to evaluate the group with Towns.

[TheZachAttack]

Really when you think about it, with the exception of adding rookies and swapping some veteran mentorship (Johnson for Rubio and Davis) they are essentially running back the same group that they assembled last deadline. Always figured there was a strong possibility this might happen, considering we really didn't get a chance to evaluate the group with Towns.

I think a healthy Layman, adding Edwards, improving your backup C (Davis), and adding Rubio is a pretty drastic change to that deadline core. We may have been desensitized by Rosas's trigger finger, but that's a completely different rotation in every sense of the word.

[Dewey]

I am really excited to see the rebuilt Wolves roster and to finally start getting some clarity about the future. There are a number of questions that need to be answered including:

1. Will Culver and/or Okogie be able to hit open shots. For those two the difference between being a high end role player and just another bench guy is the ability to make 3s at an average or better rate.
2. Can Vanderbilt turn potential into production. The way the roster is constructed there will be plenty of PF opportunities for a player who can defend and rebounder at a high level.
3. How fast will Edwards adapt to the NBA level. The speed at which he figures things out will have a big impact on the timeline for the team.
4. Can Towns, Russell, Beasley, and Hernangomez become average team defenders. The group is almost certain to provide high level offense, and if they could couple that with average defense the team might be better than expected.
5. How will the SG/SF rotation shake out. Russell, Rubio, and Beasley are going to get their minutes, the question is how will the rest of the minutes be distributed between Edwards, Culver, and Okogie.

Well put...
I would add that first and foremost how will Russell and towns play out for a full season together… We have yet to see a good sample size of those two. Will they click with Russell at point guard or off the ball? Will Layman or Beasley be more positive chemistry wise with those two? – we don’t know that yet. We do have some shooters but we still need to find chemistry and we still need to defend

[Neeva]

Other than Davis, the depth chart on ESPN has been updated.

Interesting enough, the site has chosen the following starters:
PG - Rubio
SG - Russell
SF - Edwards
PF - Hernangomez
C - Towns

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/min

No culver wtf

[KGdaBom]

I also can't see Edwards playing the 3. At least not early on. I also think he's coming off the bench to start. I think the Wolves want him to share the floor with Rubio as much as possible.

My depth chart.
SF - Culver
PF - Hernangomez
C - Towns
SG - Beasley
PG - Russell

Second unit
SF - Okogie
PF - Layman/Vanderbilt
C - Davis
SG - Edwards
PG - Rubio

This will allow Edwards to play with 3 strong defenders (Rubio, Okogie, Davis) to make up for his defensive issues.

I could see fourth quarter lineups with Rubio and Russell together.

I think this is the most likely scenario as well. I could see Okogie and Culver flip flopped in your lineups but thats minor. I like Edwards off the bench and hope that motivates him to compete for a starting spot and hopefully will be our starting SF sooner rather than later. I also think Edwards is going to have to at least get a few minutes at the SF with DLO and Beasley taking a good chunk of the SG minutes.

Edwards playing the SF is the only thing that makes sense IMO.

[Biff Cooper]

There will be injuries and covid games missed. Having depth and positional flexibility will be big assets. I'm not too worried about having a glut of wings right now. We can get by with a small ball lineup from time to time if needed also.

[jpatrick]

I hope we have another move in us. We have six decent guards/wings, none that should be playing PF. I’d argue none are a true SF.

At the bigs, Towns, Juancho, Davis, and kinda Layman. That’s just such a soft group. If we could add a PJ Tucker for cheapish I think that would change my outlook. Need someone to provide defensive physicality. It would also push Juancho to a 20 min role off the bench for now and if he earns it, he may earn the starting spot down the road.

[minimus]

I hope we have another move in us. We have six decent guards/wings, none that should be playing PF. I’d argue none are a true SF.

At the bigs, Towns, Juancho, Davis, and kinda Layman. That’s just such a soft group. If we could add a PJ Tucker for cheapish I think that would change my outlook. Need someone to provide defensive physicality. It would also push Juancho to a 20 min role off the bench for now and if he earns it, he may earn the starting spot down the road.

Vando

[KGdaBom]

I hope we have another move in us. We have six decent guards/wings, none that should be playing PF. I’d argue none are a true SF.

At the bigs, Towns, Juancho, Davis, and kinda Layman. That’s just such a soft group. If we could add a PJ Tucker for cheapish I think that would change my outlook. Need someone to provide defensive physicality. It would also push Juancho to a 20 min role off the bench for now and if he earns it, he may earn the starting spot down the road.

Vando

The management have been raving about him, but it's still a long shot.

[Jedzz]

I hope we have another move in us. We have six decent guards/wings, none that should be playing PF. I’d argue none are a true SF.

At the bigs, Towns, Juancho, Davis, and kinda Layman. That’s just such a soft group. If we could add a PJ Tucker for cheapish I think that would change my outlook. Need someone to provide defensive physicality. It would also push Juancho to a 20 min role off the bench for now and if he earns it, he may earn the starting spot down the road.

Why is Layman not a true SF option if you wanted one.

[Jedzz]

I hope we have another move in us. We have six decent guards/wings, none that should be playing PF. I’d argue none are a true SF.

At the bigs, Towns, Juancho, Davis, and kinda Layman. That’s just such a soft group. If we could add a PJ Tucker for cheapish I think that would change my outlook. Need someone to provide defensive physicality. It would also push Juancho to a 20 min role off the bench for now and if he earns it, he may earn the starting spot down the road.

Vando

The management have been raving about him, but it's still a long shot.

You accepting what they are planning is a longshot.

[Jedzz]

Other than Davis, the depth chart on ESPN has been updated.

Interesting enough, the site has chosen the following starters:
PG - Rubio
SG - Russell
SF - Edwards
PF - Hernangomez
C - Towns

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/min

No culver wtf

The site has written. Move along.

[KGdaBom]

Vando

The management have been raving about him, but it's still a long shot.

You accepting what they are planning is a longshot.

I'm hopeful. Always hopeful.

[Jedzz]

The management have been raving about him, but it's still a long shot.

You accepting what they are planning is a longshot.

I'm hopeful. Always hopeful.

You can't be both. Sorry

[gandlogo]

Based off what I’ve seen of his limited offensive ability, I don’t see Davis taking Reid’s minutes unless I’m missing something.

[Neeva]

Based off what I’ve seen of his limited offensive ability, I don’t see Davis taking Reid’s minutes unless I’m missing something.

He was really really bad last season but he’s a nice guy to have around in the lockerroom apparently.

[gandlogo]

Based off what I’ve seen of his limited offensive ability, I don’t see Davis taking Reid’s minutes unless I’m missing something.

He was really really bad last season but he’s a nice guy to have around in the lockerroom apparently.

It sounds like he’s a great guy and a true pro - which Spellman wasn’t either of those things - so those are plusses. Having physical veterans can help KAT and Naz in their development. Offensively he looks like only a screener.

[Jedzz]

Could the Timberwolves offer anything that could pry Lillard away from Portland and convince them to go in another direction? Like anything?