By acquiring French centre Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves executed one of the most significant moves of the NBA offseason. The goal is to match Karl Anthony-Towns with a strong big man so that the club can play outside more easily and create an imposing frontcourt. One of the favourites to make an All-Star team for the first time, Anthony Edwards is entering his third NBA season.
Edwards could be a bit overlooked entering the season with all the hype on the Gobert and Towns frontcourt, but it is not far-fetched for him to be the most important piece of Minnesota this year. As the offensive quarterback for the Timberwolves, D’Angelo Russell is still playing. These are a couple big forecasts for the company even though the squad’s supporting cast is a little thin going into the season.
They will be a top-8 defense in the league
Consistent defence has always been a problem for this Timberwolves squad, regardless of iteration. Despite being two of the best scorers in the league, Karl Anthony-Towns and Anthony Edwards were unable to stop their opponents from scoring less than 100 points a game, which led to them losing some crucial games. Rudy Gobert will therefore have the biggest effect in this area.
Gobert will right away provide an inside presence that will make slashers second-guess their intention to attack the cup. With both Towns and Gobert, the perimeter defense will be compromised, but the franchise added an integral piece in Kyle Anderson, along with terrific defenders Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince. This is the ideal opportunity for Edwards to prove that he is the best defender in the NBA, a claim he made during the playoffs the previous season.
D’Angelo Russell gets traded before the deadline
Given Minnesota’s dearth of backup point guards, this might come as a surprise to some, but D’Angelo Russell is on an expiring contract and is not likely to get the generous extension he wants from the Timberwolves. Since he started playing with Towns and Edwards, Russell’s statistics have not come close to matching those of his best season in Brooklyn from a few seasons ago.
D’Angelo Russell has had glaring issues on both ends of the floor, so it might be wiser for him to use his skills elsewhere. There was even an instance last season when coach Chris Finch decided to bench Russell in the playoffs, likely due to his lackluster defense on either Ja Morant or Desmond Bane. Gauging the alternatives if Russell does indeed depart by February, it could open up more opportunities for Anthony Edwards to be the primary ball handler of this unit.
Timberwolves will fail to make the top-6 in the West
When one organization invests in a star like Rudy Gobert, the expectation is to improve immensely from the previous season. The bench has been depleted, and it is still questionable how the current pieces will fit to ascend to one of the top teams in the NBA.
Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns are going to have a difficult time defending quicker rosters, like the Los Angeles Clippers or Golden State Warriors. Furthermore, it is not just with the big men, but their defensive prowess from the guards and wing position still need to improve a ton this season. The Timberwolves are not an atrocious team, but it is magnifying the excellence of the Western Conference this year.
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