So far, the Minnesota Timberwolves have had a mediocre 2022-23 NBA season. In their first 11 games of the season, they have a 5-6 record, which is terrible. Considering what they did in the summer, they should have performed better.
In the offseason, the Timberwolves acquired All-Star center Rudy Gobert with draft picks from Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jared Vanderbilt, Leandro Bormaro, Walker Kessler, and four future first-round picks. The deal made waves throughout the NBA because no one wanted to see it coming. Many were surprised that Minnesota was willing to give up its future for Goebel.
On paper, they look like a serious threat. They have a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner as their center, an All-Star big man who can create shots, a 3D wing, a rising young star and an experienced point guard. This is a starting line-up that could pose a threat to rival teams.
However, this is not the case. The Timberwolves didn't win a lot of games. In the offseason, the media revolved around them as potential title contenders. , and there are even those who think that when June 2023 arrives they will be the winners of the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
The Big Three of the Minnesota Timberwolves have yet to find their pace
In the entire NBA, the Timberwolves have one of the most talented starting lineups. All five have unique abilities that should complement the skills of the others well. Rudy Gobert's numbers have declined this season. He scored three fewer points than the previous season. He seems to be struggling with Wolves' system. The upside for Gobert is that he can still consistently take off rebounds.
Gobert earned $38 million this season. But he didn't play as much as he deserved. Three rounds of Wolves' power forward Carl-Anthony Towns have started slowly. He's maximizing his role as a big man on the team's space, creating shots and creating career-high assist rates. That's not bad, but he's been touching the ball less and less at the back this season. Whenever he felt he had been fouled, Towns would still complain to the referee. While this has always been part of the former Rookie of the Year style of play, it has only led to more quick breakout points for opposing teams.
Of the three, Anthony Edwards is the only one who looks ready for the NBA season. Edwards has seen a slight increase in production on the court, such as rebounds. One area of improvement for him is his patience. The former champion no longer throws hard and waves, which makes him look better in his first 11 games.
We'll see if Edwards can build on an already good start. His performances may encourage the team to improve their game and put them in a better position in the Western Conference standings. Edwards said he has fewer dunks this season due to spacing issues with the team's big men. Once all three players develop steady chemistry, he may return to more dunks this year.
At the beginning of the season, the Timberwolves had a chance to turn things around. They already have the right lineup. It's only a matter of time before they start figuring things out.