Timberwolves 2021-2022 rotation thread

[Mamba4Goat]

I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past few days…who do you guys think is in the rotation and who do you guys think starts (assuming Vando/McLaughlin or other min PG are the remaining moves and no Simmons trade occurs)?

My guess for the starters is Russell-Beas-Ant-McDaniels-KAT (would prefer Bev or Vando over Beas though) and for the rotation I honestly don’t know because any way I imagine it sees Okogie or Prince out of the rotation which doesn’t feel accurate.

[KGdaBom]

I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past few days…who do you guys think is in the rotation and who do you guys think starts (assuming Vando/McLaughlin or other min PG are the remaining moves and no Simmons trade occurs)?

My guess for the starters is Russell-Beas-Ant-McDaniels-KAT (would prefer Bev or Vando over Beas though) and for the rotation I honestly don’t know because any way I imagine it sees Okogie or Prince out of the rotation which doesn’t feel accurate.

I wonder if we use Beasley for instant offense off the bench and got Russell/Ant/Prince/McDaniels/KAT

[winforlose]

I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past few days…who do you guys think is in the rotation and who do you guys think starts (assuming Vando/McLaughlin or other min PG are the remaining moves and no Simmons trade occurs)?

My guess for the starters is Russell-Beas-Ant-McDaniels-KAT (would prefer Bev or Vando over Beas though) and for the rotation I honestly don’t know because any way I imagine it sees Okogie or Prince out of the rotation which doesn’t feel accurate.

The problem with Beasley is he is bad at shot creation. Next to KAT/Ant/Dlo he should get open catch and shoot 3s for major scoring. On the bench as the primary threat he will be doubled or guarded by their best defender with a help scheme and Beasley will be much less effective. What I think will happen is KAT will sit about 5 mins into the first quarter and Reid will play with the rest of the starters. Next will be either Dlo or Ant sitting a few minutes later and the other one will probably finish the first quarter. A staggered lineup is probably best here with at least one of our big three on the floor at all times and all of them together at the beginning and end of each half.

[Nick K]

I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past few days…who do you guys think is in the rotation and who do you guys think starts (assuming Vando/McLaughlin or other min PG are the remaining moves and no Simmons trade occurs)?

My guess for the starters is Russell-Beas-Ant-McDaniels-KAT (would prefer Bev or Vando over Beas though) and for the rotation I honestly don’t know because any way I imagine it sees Okogie or Prince out of the rotation which doesn’t feel accurate.

It makes no sense to me for Beasley to start. Ant has a tremendous advantage at the 2 with his size and speed. Why take that away. McD's best position is SF. Why take that away. There is only 1 basketball so Beasley compounds matters.

I love Beasley as a key 6th man off the bench with Beverly, Nowell/Prince, Reid and Vando? That's a great looking group.

[Krapinsky]

Dlo-Ant-Prince-Vanderbilt-Towns
Beverly-Beasley-Okogie-McDaniels-Naz

[Nick K]

I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past few days…who do you guys think is in the rotation and who do you guys think starts (assuming Vando/McLaughlin or other min PG are the remaining moves and no Simmons trade occurs)?

My guess for the starters is Russell-Beas-Ant-McDaniels-KAT (would prefer Bev or Vando over Beas though) and for the rotation I honestly don’t know because any way I imagine it sees Okogie or Prince out of the rotation which doesn’t feel accurate.

The problem with Beasley is he is bad at shot creation. Next to KAT/Ant/Dlo he should get open catch and shoot 3s for major scoring. On the bench as the primary threat he will be doubled or guarded by their best defender with a help scheme and Beasley will be much less effective. What I think will happen is KAT will sit about 5 mins into the first quarter and Reid will play with the rest of the starters. Next will be either Dlo or Ant sitting a few minutes later and the other one will probably finish the first quarter. A staggered lineup is probably best here with at least one of our big three on the floor at all times and all of them together at the beginning and end of each half.

Yep, that's the argument but is he really bad? He can create his shot but rarely needs to due to how he's used. OTOH I'm not saying he's great at it either but he really doesn't need to create a great deal when you move the ball. You can always find him a spot up shot or a drive to the basket. Plus he runs the floor very well so I wouldn't be concerned about that at all. I'd be more concerned with how he accepts that role.

Now if he were our only scorer off the bench I'd be more concerned. Are they really going to double Beasley in the corner? Finch's offense will be all ball movement and cutting. Guys playing off each other which will be hard to defend in the traditional way you described.

I do think, as you said, they stagger that 2nd group with a starter or two at times. How exciting is that?

[winforlose]

I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the past few days…who do you guys think is in the rotation and who do you guys think starts (assuming Vando/McLaughlin or other min PG are the remaining moves and no Simmons trade occurs)?

My guess for the starters is Russell-Beas-Ant-McDaniels-KAT (would prefer Bev or Vando over Beas though) and for the rotation I honestly don’t know because any way I imagine it sees Okogie or Prince out of the rotation which doesn’t feel accurate.

The problem with Beasley is he is bad at shot creation. Next to KAT/Ant/Dlo he should get open catch and shoot 3s for major scoring. On the bench as the primary threat he will be doubled or guarded by their best defender with a help scheme and Beasley will be much less effective. What I think will happen is KAT will sit about 5 mins into the first quarter and Reid will play with the rest of the starters. Next will be either Dlo or Ant sitting a few minutes later and the other one will probably finish the first quarter. A staggered lineup is probably best here with at least one of our big three on the floor at all times and all of them together at the beginning and end of each half.

Yep, that's the argument but is he really bad? He can create his shot but rarely needs to due to how he's used. OTOH I'm not saying he's great at it either but he really doesn't need to create a great deal when you move the ball. You can always find him a spot up shot or a drive to the basket. Plus he runs the floor very well so I wouldn't be concerned about that at all. I'd be more concerned with how he accepts that role.

Now if he were our only scorer off the bench I'd be more concerned. Are they really going to double Beasley in the corner? Finch's offense will be all ball movement and cutting. Guys playing off each other which will be hard to defend in the traditional way you described.

I do think, as you said, they stagger that 2nd group with a starter or two at times. How exciting is that?

We have seen Beasley play with Nowell and Reid and be less effective because he is the focus of the defense. I do agree the Finch offensive scheme will help quite a bit compared to the Ryan stand around nonsense, but I fear Beasley is known quantity by now. Scouting reports will focus on cheating off Okogie to deny Beasley and nobody in your unit is good enough to free him up. One lineup I think might be interesting, Nowell, Beasley, Bolmaro, Prince, Reid. Now you have guys who cannot be left alone behind the arc (give or take on Bolmaro.) You can run the ultimate inside outside with Nowell, Beasley, Reid with Bolmaro facilitating with excellent screens and Ricky Rubio style passing. Assuming what I read about him is true.

Ultimately, we might see Dlo come off the bench to start but be on the floor for the close. It was very effective last season and got Dlo plenty of minutes and well within his point range. Beverly, Ant, MCD, Prince, KAT, then Dlo, Nowell, Beasley, Vando, Reid in a small ball second unit with three excellent shooters plus Reid as a hybrid low post outside threat and Vando to rebound everything.

[wolves_89]

With the current roster (plus Vanderbilt re-signed), my guess at the rotation would be:

Starters:
Russell
Edwards
McDaniels
Vanderbilt
Towns

Rotation guys whose minutes are based on match-ups:
Beverley
Beasley
Okogie
Prince
Reid

A couple of thoughts. I think the Wolves need to start Vanderbilt since they desperately need defense and rebounding with the Russell/Edwards/McDaniels/Towns group. My second thought is that the rotation is going to be at a serious size disadvantage on most nights. I really wish the Wolves had been able to find a rotation caliber PF/C with good size/weight to come off the bench.

[FinnTheHuman]

I think we need to start Beasley, that off-ball threat and 3pt shooting is smth that creates a big advantage only if the other guys are threatening enough, so he won't do as well in the bench role. You don't play a Klay-lite guy off the bench, no way.

I'd actually do:
Beverley
Beasley
Ant
McDaniels
KAT



The starting unit sets the defensive tone, with Ant perhaps hidden on the PF on defense (PF is the weakest position rn in the league, plenty of times Ant could defend that guy), while McDaniels defends the main wing option. And then around 5 min into the 1st quarter, get DLo in for Beverley.

Then the bench unit is DLo/Nowell/Prince/Vando/Reid, with DLo exiting at the end of 1st quarter for Bev, and then re-entering at the 9 minute mark.

I wouldn't play Okogie unless he's developed a more reliable corner 3 or smth, 1 non-shooter in Vando is enough. That's why Nowell is in the rotation, he's a below average 3pt shooter but should be improved this season I feel.

And then rinse and repeat in the 2nd half.

Ofc the great mystery is if DLo would be too salty to play the super-6th man role, but Finch should be able to sell him the idea that he'd be in the Manu Ginobili/OKC Harden type of role.

[KGdaBom]

I think we need to start Beasley, that off-ball threat and 3pt shooting is smth that creates a big advantage only if the other guys are threatening enough, so he won't do as well in the bench role. You don't play a Klay-lite guy off the bench, no way.

I'd actually do:
Beverley
Beasley
Ant
McDaniels
KAT



The starting unit sets the defensive tone, with Ant perhaps hidden on the PF on defense (PF is the weakest position rn in the league, plenty of times Ant could defend that guy), while McDaniels defends the main wing option. And then around 5 min into the 1st quarter, get DLo in for Beverley.

Then the bench unit is DLo/Nowell/Prince/Vando/Reid, with DLo exiting at the end of 1st quarter for Bev, and then re-entering at the 9 minute mark.

I wouldn't play Okogie unless he's developed a more reliable corner 3 or smth, 1 non-shooter in Vando is enough. That's why Nowell is in the rotation, he's a below average 3pt shooter but should be improved this season I feel.

And then rinse and repeat in the 2nd half.

Ofc the great mystery is if DLo would be too salty to play the super-6th man role, but Finch should be able to sell him the idea that he'd be in the Manu Ginobili/OKC Harden type of role.

What is smth?\

[FinnTheHuman]

I think we need to start Beasley, that off-ball threat and 3pt shooting is smth that creates a big advantage only if the other guys are threatening enough, so he won't do as well in the bench role. You don't play a Klay-lite guy off the bench, no way.

I'd actually do:
Beverley
Beasley
Ant
McDaniels
KAT



The starting unit sets the defensive tone, with Ant perhaps hidden on the PF on defense (PF is the weakest position rn in the league, plenty of times Ant could defend that guy), while McDaniels defends the main wing option. And then around 5 min into the 1st quarter, get DLo in for Beverley.

Then the bench unit is DLo/Nowell/Prince/Vando/Reid, with DLo exiting at the end of 1st quarter for Bev, and then re-entering at the 9 minute mark.

I wouldn't play Okogie unless he's developed a more reliable corner 3 or smth, 1 non-shooter in Vando is enough. That's why Nowell is in the rotation, he's a below average 3pt shooter but should be improved this season I feel.

And then rinse and repeat in the 2nd half.

Ofc the great mystery is if DLo would be too salty to play the super-6th man role, but Finch should be able to sell him the idea that he'd be in the Manu Ginobili/OKC Harden type of role.

What is smth?\

Smth as in something that Okogie worked on, whatever that may be, that would make him more useful than he was last year offensively. If it isn't shooting which would be the most obvious upgrade, he'd have to offer something else offensively that he wasn't good at before. I guess driving and finishing around the rim would be the 2nd most obvious thing he could've improved at, but it's a lot harder to find drive opportunities if nobody respects your jumper.

[Krapinsky]

10-man rotation with 4 guys on the bench - JMac, Nowell, Okogie, and Layman

D-Lo/ Beverly /// Jmac
Edwards/Beasley/// Nowell
Prince/Bolsnaro///Okogie
Vanderbilt/McDaniels////Layman
Towns/Naz /// _______

[Klomp]

Starting 5: Russell / Edwards / McDaniels / Vanderbilt / Towns

Regular reserves: Beasley, Beverley, Reid, Prince
Matchup-based: Okogie, McLaughlin, Bolmaro, Nowell
Riding the pine: Layman

[gandlogo]

Being this is the OG thread, I'll post my rotation speculation here.

A while back Finch made some comments about starting Beasley and getting out to a fast start offensively. He also seems comfortable playing Naz and KAT together. Further, Naz needs more minutes than just backing up KAT. And finally, the idea that there are five positions that each get 48 minutes is hogwash. I do agree that DLo's minutes would not likely be as heavy as KAT's or Ant's. Getting Beasley more minutes (probably initially at the expense of Nowell) also builds his trade value. Finch strikes me as somebody who likes versatile players and will be creative in how he deploys them. So...

DLo
Beasley
Ant
McDaniels
KAT

Naz is first sub in - most likely for Bease - go a little bit bigger for a bit.
Then Bev and Bolmaro for DLo and McD
Prince for KAT
Vando for Ant
Bease for Naz

Gets shooters (Bease, Bev, and Prince) to space for Vando and lets Bolmaro facilitate (taking a leap that he's ready). Most teams second units are smaller, so this shouldn't be an issue.