The Minnesota Timberwolves faced a challenging task as they sought to rework their roster after reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2024, all while operating with limited financial flexibility. They were already $6,484,442 over the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement’s second apron, which imposed restrictions and a hefty tax on owners.
Tim Connelly and his team needed to be inventive in enhancing their roster while building on their recent successes. With the top seven players from Chris Finch’s rotation for the 2024-25 season already under contract, the front office’s moves were focused on refining and completing the roster.
The team lost free agents Kyle Anderson (to the Golden State Warriors), Jordan McLaughlin (to the Sacramento Kings), and Monte Morris (to the Phoenix Suns), who sought better financial terms or larger roles elsewhere. Given the anticipated departures, Connelly and his staff had to find ways to replace these players without overspending.
A focus on youth.
“This draft is full of players who are ready to contribute right away—23-year-olds or even 24-year-olds,” Finch told KSTP’s Darren Wolfson before the draft. “Physically, they’re prepared to play. The upside might not be as high, but given our situation, we could benefit from a couple of instant-impact rookies.”
Finch was taken aback when Minnesota traded up to the 8th pick to select point guard Rob Dillingham, as he had been primarily scouting players in the late first round. The team hopes Dillingham will eventually succeed Mike Conley and serve as their backup point guard. They also drafted Terrence Shannon Jr., a 24-year-old with an NBA-ready physique who impressed in the Summer League.
The Wolves aim to build on last season’s success and reach their first NBA Finals. They don’t want the 2024-25 season to be merely a period of adjustment but rather to emphasize youth. Finch and his staff will need to create effective lineups and rotations to help Minnesota achieve this goal, even if the team isn’t as deep on paper.
Let’s consider some potential rotations. First, let’s review Minnesota’s main rotation from the previous season. Finch typically used a nine-man rotation, seldom going to a tenth player. Off the bench, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid, and Kyle Anderson were the primary options, while the ninth spot varied. It might have been Jordan McLaughlin or Monte Morris at times, or occasionally Troy Brown Jr. or Shake Milton. Finch kept the final rotational spot flexible, using it as needed.
Here is the Minnesota roster for the 2023-24 season, sorted by minutes played, as per Basketball Reference:
Now that we have the basics of how Finch likes to deploy his players, we can dive into how the rotation could look next season and where Minnesota’s coaching staff may look to change their game plan from last year.
The Most Likely Day 1 Rotation
Starters: Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Towns, Gobert
Bench: Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, Ingles, Reid
The Wolves needed someone to replace Anderson when he signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Warriors. Anderson is a unique player; few players have a similar playstyle. Joe Ingles, who the Wolves signed to a one-year veteran’s minimum contract, is one of them and seems to be a near-perfect replacement.
In Australia’s first game, ingles, 36, has played a total of 2:33 minutes for Team Australia in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. He has not seen any minutes over their last three games, which may spark concern regarding his role with the Wolves.
Will he become a mentor from the bench? I don’t think so.
Ingles shot 44% from three with the Orlando Magic last season, most of which came off catch-and-shoot opportunities. The Wolves desperately needed a shooter off the bench in 2023-24, and Ingles – even at an older age – will be able to help solve that issue. His unique jump shot allows him to shoot over the top of defenders quickly.
Connelly told the media that the plan is for Dillingham to become Minnesota’s backup guard immediately. That’s a daunting task for a 19-year-old who started in one game at Kentucky. Dillingham likely won’t have a seamless transition to the pros, and Ingles’ ability to run the offense and take some of the pressure off the No. 8 pick will prove invaluable.
By allowing Dillingham to rely on his teammates, such as Ingles and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Wolves can let him manage the offense in his own style and promote a smooth offensive flow.
Having Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, Ingles, and Reid coming off the bench would give Finch a versatile set of offensive options, regardless of the on-court combinations. Reid can effectively substitute for Karl-Anthony Towns as an on-ball threat. Alexander-Walker adds value with his off-ball shooting and aggressive on-ball defense. Dillingham has the potential to evolve into a high-scoring threat with solid passing skills, while Ingles provides a well-rounded presence to complete the mix.
Finch will need to be innovative with his lineups this season, but Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, Ingles, and Reid form an intriguing bench group. It’s likely that Minnesota’s coaching staff will rely on them heavily at the start, as they offer both offensive flexibility and the chance to experiment with different lineup combinations.
Committing More To the Youth
Starters: Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Towns, Gobert
Bench: Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, Shannon, Reid
I would expect to see this scenario later in the season. Maybe Ingles regresses, or an injury pops up, and the Wolves rely more on their rookies.
“I played a lot of rookies when I first got here, and they became really good players,” Finch said in late June. “It is hard for rookies to play where we are. But as we forecast forward, we are going to need young and talented players to start playing in the rotation more.”
I am sticking with the nine-man rotation again, plucking Ingles out and replacing him with Shannon, who is a 6’5” combo guard, but he plays much bigger than that. The Wolves list him at 215 lbs., and he uses every bit of that size on both sides of the ball. The former Illinois star averaged 13.3 points (second-most on the Wolves) on 56.3% from the floor through four Summer League games. He was also impressed with his physical, active, and intelligent on-ball defense, which was his calling card during college recruiting.
Integrating Shannon into the rotation and having Ingles come off the bench would sacrifice some on-ball offense, creating a tradeoff that could place additional pressure on Dillingham. It might be prudent to delay this potential adjustment until mid-season, when Dillingham should have gained more experience and confidence in managing the offense in a backup role.
This rotation could offer considerable upside. However, given Anderson’s significant role last season, it seems unlikely the Wolves will sideline Ingles entirely. During the season, teams often face changes like injuries or unexpected declines in performance, which could create openings for younger players. With Minnesota’s roster not as deep as it was previously, such opportunities might arise.
Finch Lengthens His Rotation, Potentially Sticks With Youth
Starters: Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Towns, Gobert
Bench: Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, Shannon, Reid, Miller
“Now we are in a situation where we have a lot of really good players,” Finch explained before the draft. “We have a rotation of nine with our guys right now. Sometimes, we may be able to stretch to ten. We’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of talented players.”
After the Dallas Mavericks eliminated the Wolves from the Western Conference Finals in five games, Edwards opened up about how his team didn’t train like they were going to play that deep into the season. Minnesota’s fatigue against the Mavs was evident on both sides of the ball. As they aim to go even deeper next season, perhaps lengthening the rotation will help keep everyone fresh and healthy.
I have Leonard Miller slotted in as the tenth man in the rotation above. He displayed rebounding chops in the Summer League. Still, nobody has obviously laid claim to that rotation spot yet. Luka Garza and Josh Minott could earn it, or Ingles could play alongside Shannon to create a healthy diet of on-ball offense and rugged defense.
Don’t forget P.J. Dozier, whom the Wolves signed to a one-year deal last month. At 6’6”, he provides stingy defense and can initiate the offense.
There are positive aspects to keeping a tight-knit rotation of eight or nine players – for example, a higher level of chemistry and on-court familiarity. However, expanding the nightly rotation to ten players is the first step in priming the starters for a deep postseason run.
This is especially pertinent for Conley, who is 36 and entering his 18th NBA season. He played 76 games last year, resting only twice. Given his age, the Wolves should aim to reduce his games played to around or below 70 this season. Last year, they couldn’t do this due to Conley’s crucial role in the team’s offense. However, with Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, and Ingles available to provide relief off the bench, there’s an opportunity to lessen Conley’s load.
Reducing Conley’s workload could start with a more extended rotation.
While Finch hasn’t consistently used a 10-man rotation in Minnesota, he has done so intermittently. With the team not as deep as last season, the coaching staff needs to experiment with various lineups. There are numerous potential rotation configurations, each with its advantages and drawbacks. Regardless of who Finch chooses for the opening game, expanding the rotation should be a key focus if the Wolves aim to reach their first NBA Finals in franchise history.