On Friday ESPN posted an article written by Kevin Pelton In the largest schedules for all 30 NBA teams for the 2025-26 season. When it comes to the Minnesota Timberwolves, he mentioned their biggest grid hole as their wing depth.
Wing depth can be a problem for the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves return a lot of the same selection that reached the final of the conference last season. The most important differences are the drafting of Joan Beringer in the first round with the 17th overall choice, and seeing Nickeil Alexander-Walker departing in the free agency to become a member of the Hawks. It was generally believed that Minnesota would not be able to keep each of his three most important free agents, and they prioritized to reduce Julius Randle and Naz Reid over Alexander-Walker.
In his two full seasons, Alexander-Walker did not play a single match for the Wolves. Although it was usually used as a reserve (30 combined starts), it was still on average 24.4 minutes during those two years. In a Minnesota team that did not go deep in their bank, Chris Finch Donte Divincenzo, Reid and Alexander-Walker seemed to be trusted for a large part of the Bank’s play-offs.
With Alexander-Walker who leaves the team, the Timberwolves will look at younger players to take over his role as the best player in the bank. The two most important candidates for some of the minutes he left his Terrence Shannon Jr. And Jaylen Clark.
Both come to play in the NBA of their first season. While Clark was set up in 2023, he missed his entire Rookie year with a torn Achilles. He and Shannon combined only 85 minutes during their 15-game play-off run.
Point Guard Depth has been noticed as a weakness by fans
Yes, losing Alexander-Walker hurts, but Shannon Jr. Had to teach the faith in the fan base with how he played in their last three Playoff games after he was finally inserted in the rotation after the season. Although the 25-year-old has to show that he can perform in the course of an entire season, he showed what he is capable of with longer minutes.
Many fans may be surprised that Pelton did not choose the position of the Point Guard. It has been discussed about Ad Nauseam how Mike Conley turns 38 years old before the season starts. Rob Dillingham also never seemed to win the full confidence of Chris Finch during his smoking year. There was even talk about Divincenzo who may be the team’s starting point guard.
#ESPN #surprising #explanation #mentions #biggest #grid #hole #Timberwolves