NBA: Power Ranking Every Team’s Bench Unit Entering 2016-17
By Mason McFee
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
Starters – Ricky Rubio, Zach Lavine, Andrew Wiggins, Karl Anthony-Towns, Gorgui Dieng
Bench – Kris Dunn, Shabazz Muhammad, Brandon Rush, Cole Aldrich, Jordan Hill
The Timberwolves do have an exciting young core for the future with a dynasty potential, but that’s not the purpose of this article so unless you want to make your case for Cole Aldrich or Jordan Hill as the starting 5, I’m going to dive into the bench.
Kris Dunn is really good at this whole basketball thing. My jaw dropped multiple times watching him play in Summer League. He put up huge scoring totals all the while dropping dimes to his teammates at lightning speed. He is the PG of the future. Sorry, Ricky. You’ll be on the bench or traded soon enough.
Shabazz Muhammad is the Timberpups’ version of Terrence Ross – a dynamic scorer who struggles handling the ball, but if given less offensive responsibility can go off any given night. He should come off the bench and/or be put in the starting lineup if Lavine is convinced to be a super-sub.
Brandon Rush is a veteran addition to even out the youthful core of the TWolves, and showed during his time in Golden State he still has plenty in the tank.
Cole Aldrich was a huge surprise to many NBA writers and fans as he thrived in a small ball center role with the Clippers last season, putting up impressive stat lines night after night. Go check his stats from last season if you don’t believe me.
Finally, Jordan Hill is another veteran addition and is one of those players that will do whatever you ask him – defend, rebound, pop out for a 15-ft. jumper – you just have to give him a role.
I debated about ranking this bench even higher, but until the season actually starts I can’t give them a higher ranking.
Next: No. 12