FanPost

Grading the Entire Wolves Roster this season



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A great season comes to a disappointing close.

What a run it was for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, not exactly expected to make the playoffs but through all the odds, this team band together and became one of the more surprising young teams in the league. After what was a crazy and weird series against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Wolves are sent home and are on the wrong end of history, being the only team in history to lose 3 games in a series after leading double digits in the 4th quarter multiple times.

Despite such a disappointing ending, there was still great points and bad points to take note of with this roster.

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Karl-Anthony Towns

The Good:

*What an impressive season it was for Karl-Anthony Towns, averaged about 24 points and just a little below 10 rebounds. But this was by far his best defensive season. The Wolves big man did a much better job cleaning up his weakside coverage and pick and roll defense. He is likely to be on one of the 3 All-NBA teams this season.

The Bad:

When things went bad for KAT, they went BAD. KAT couldn't consistently stay out of foul trouble and whenever things didn't go his way, he would sometimes disappear throughout games. His attitude after bad games was also a little noteworthy to say the least. But it is encouraging to see KAT still play his heart out.

GRADE: A-

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Anthony Edwards

The Good:

Anthony Edwards has emerged into one of the more fun and explosive young athletes in this league. This year he gave the Timberwolves about 21 points and some marquee games like scoring 49 points. Edwards has continued growth as an in between scorer and has done much better at drawing fouls. His continued development is going to be key for the Wolves going forward.

The Bad:

Timberwolves fans won't admit this so I will. He has too much of a "ME" mentality. Ant has so much confidence in himself that sometimes he freezes out his teammates so he can be the hero. As seen in the playoffs despite good numbers, too much iso ball and poor shot selection from him came back to hurt them.

GRADE: A-

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D'Angelo Russell

The Good:

Though it seems all of Minnesota is beginning to turn on him for his extremely bad playoff series, his importance to the team all year may have been unmatched. DLo gave the Wolves 18 points and a career high 7.1 assists. He also had the best defensive season of his career, quarterbacking the Wolves defense by communicating other teams plays. Also for the longest time he led the Wolves in net rating and plus minus.

The Bad:

The playoff series was an example of DLo's inconsistent effort throughout the year to remain aggressive hunting for his offense. Often times way too passive than what he should be and occasionally would revert into his old defensive habits of not giving effort. But again, his importance to the team has unparalleled. The team did finish 39-22 when he played compared to 7-10 when he didn't.

GRADE: B+

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Patrick Beverley

The Good:

Patrick Beverley came into this season with expectations of being the backup point guard behind D'Angelo Russell, but it turned out that pairing them together in the starting lineup worked on both ends. Beverley's defense and antics paved a way for the younger Wolves to play just as hard. You can say he changed the culture of the Timberwolves on the defensive end.

The Bad:

A little too often Pat Bev would get caught up in the moment and his antics would be costly. Over aggressiveness and picking up silly technical fouls. Then again, that's who Patrick Beverley is.

GRADE: A-

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Malik Beasley

The Good:

Malik Beasley accepted his role as the Sixth Man of this team and became one of the leagues more deadliest quick-strike shooters. His defense also improved vastly this season.

The Bad:

Just like KAT, when it was bad for Beasley, it was bad. When he was on, he becomes Stephen Curry, when he is off, he is missing wide open shots on airballs or taking ill-advised contested shots early in the shot clock. A streaky shooter if anything.

GRADE: B-

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Jarred Vanderbilt

The Good:

Jarred Vanderbilt's energy and hustle was unmatched all year. A 6'8 tall, he battled on the glass every day and knew his role was to provide a suffocating defense to some bigs, some forwards and even some guards. He has slowly become one of the leagues most imposing offensive rebounders.

The Bad:

Still somewhat of a ghost on offense. If he isn't grabbing offensive rebounders to get putbacks, he wasn't doing much else. Also every now and then he would get out hustled. Example when he continously got beat on the glass by Brandon Clarke.

GRADE: B+

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Jaden McDaniels

The Good:

It took some time this year but over time Jaden McDaniels became a very good all around player on both offense and defense. His lengthy stature makes it easier for him to shoot over smaller defenders and even guard taller offensive players. He has also developed a very good handle that can only get better. Expect great things from McDaniels going forward in his career.

The Bad:

Still doesn't understand how to use his body without fouling but he will learn.

GRADE: B

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Naz Reid

The Good:

Naz Reid became a really good offensive back up center behind Karl-Anthony Towns this year and I believe the Wolves would love to keep him there. Reid has almost all of the post moves KAT and even has an sneaky athleticism that pops out every now and then. Every now and then he was also very impressive on the defensive end.

The Bad:

As shown throughout this playoff series, Sometimes Naz gets a little ahead of himself and would turn into a deer in headlights type player. Also he has an issue with consistently giving effort throughout games.

GRADE: B-

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Jordan McLaughlin

The Good:

Jordan McLaughlin by far was one of the smartest players on the Wolves this season and even translated into the postseason. He did such a great job snaking into the defense with a drive and kick mentality and to finish the season, his scoring started to pop out a little more. He also was a pesky defender that kept up with smaller guards

The Bad:

McLaughlin throughout the year though smart, had inconsistent production where it came to a point Chris Finch began juggling he and Jaylen Nowell for the back up point guard spot.

GRADE: B

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Taurean Prince

The Good:

Another one of those players that started the season very poorly but over time, Prince became an important player off the bench for the Wolves. His gritty and toughness for the Wolves usually backed up the already gritty and tough Jarred Vanderbilt, however the Wolves desperately needed Prince's shot making and he came through down the stretch of the season.

The Bad:

It sometimes seemed Prince thought he had the ultimate greenlight and would start playing more for himself. As in not really passing the ball or attacking defenses that wall up with 4 defenders. He was also in and out of the lineup.

GRADE: C+

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Jaylen Nowell

The Good:

Jaylen Nowell developed into one of the more dangerous scorers for this Wolves team off the bench. He has such an explosive handle that he used to get inside the defense and he has a floaty jumper that he makes on a consistent basis.

The Bad:

In and out of the lineup due to either schemes Finch wanted to run or just inconsistent production.

GRADE: B-

NO GRADES:

*Josh Okogie

*Greg Monroe

*Chris Silva

*Jake Layman

*McKinley Wright IV

*Leandro Bolmaro

*Nathan Knight