What might the finished Wolves roster look like?

July 6, 2017 at 12:29AM
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau and Rickey Rubio (9). ] CARLOS GONZALEZ ï cgonzalez@startribune.com - March 8, 2017, Minneapolis, MN, Target Center, NBA Basketball, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angels Clippers
Wolves coach and personnel boss Tom Thibodeau finally orchestrated a trade of guard Ricky Rubio, sending him to Utah. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Timberwolves coach/personnel boss Tom Thibodeau got to enjoy a one-week victory lap where every Minnesota fan was on board with the plan. It started the Thursday of draft night with the trade that brought Jimmy Butler to the Wolves.

It ended not long after Butler was introduced to Minnesota the following Thursday at Mall of America when the Wolves (finally) made the years-in-the-making trade of Ricky Rubio and signed Jeff Teague to replace him. The skepticism from at least some corners continued when the Wolves dished out $28 million over two years to Taj Gibson, giving them a badly needed power forward but also gobbling up much of the rest of the money they have to give players.

The question since then has been, um, would the Wolves maybe like to hire some guys who can play off the bench and/or shoot the basketball? Because the roster seems thin on both fronts.

This led to a reported pursuit of Nick Young, but the player known as Swaggy P agreed to terms with Golden State on Wednesday. So who's left? CJ Miles' name comes up an awful lot as someone the Wolves could obtain if they can clear out more space by dispatching Cole Aldrich to another team along with a first-round pick.

Put another way: Now that a 32-year-old wing shooter coming off the best season of his career has signed elsewhere, the Timberwolves can fully commit to chasing a 30-year-old wing shooter coming off the best season of his career (Miles set career highs in true shooting, win shares and three-point percentage last season).

Let's say that happens, and the Wolves are able to get one more functioning bench body with the $4.3 million salary exception at their disposal. And maybe they can add a veteran point guard as insurance for around the league minimum.

That leaves a starting lineup of: Teague, Butler, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and either Gorgui Dieng or Gibson. And a bench of: Dieng or Gibson, Nemanja Bjelica, Miles, Tyus Jones, $4.3 million salary guy, veteran minimum point guard guy, first-round pick Justin Patton and a few other league minimum guys plucked from the bargain bin and/or scouted from the summer league.

Last we heard in March, Bjelica underwent successful surgery for a broken bone in his foot. Patton also has a broken bone in his foot, which will delay his development and cause him to miss critical summer league action.

The Wolves are building a custom home with a lot of expensive finishes. Let's just hope the heat and the plumbing work.

That said, having Teague instead of Rubio gives the Wolves more bench versatility. Any two players out of Teague, Butler, Towns and Wiggins can sit for an extended stretch while the other two stay on the court and lift the second unit.

The Wolves shouldn't need a great bench — just a good enough one. If Thibodeau is able to fully deliver on that, the honeymoon is on again.

Indiana Pacers' C.J. Miles (0) passes agasint Cleveland Cavaliers' Richard Jefferson (24) in the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 17, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) ORG XMIT: OHTD10
CJ Miles, left, has been linked to the Timberwolves, who likely would need to trade Cole Aldrich to free up the cap space to sign the 30-year-old Miles. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

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