Ben Beecken here, the host of the daily Locked On Wolves podcast, with your daily Locked On Wolves newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wolves and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Evaluating differences in Timberwolves lineups with and without Rudy Gobert + smaller lineups coming?
Timberwolves Bench Trio Continues to Impress: A Closer Look at Their Impact
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench unit has been turning heads this season, and for good reason. The trio of Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been nothing short of spectacular, consistently outperforming expectations as a group and providing a much-needed spark off the bench.
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that this bench unit is something special. Through 31 games, the three-man lineup of DiVincenzo, Reid, and Alexander-Walker has played 877 possessions together. All five-man units that include the trio rank in the 97th percentile among all units in the league. They boast an impressive plus-14.4 differential per 100 possessions, showcasing their effectiveness on both ends of the court.
What’s particularly interesting is how versatile this trio has proven to be. Whether playing alongside Rudy Gobert or in smaller lineups, they’ve maintained their effectiveness. With Gobert on the floor, they excel defensively while still holding their own on offense. Without him, they transform into an offensive juggernaut, ranking in the 98th percentile with a staggering 124.9 points per 100 possessions.
This flexibility allows head coach Chris Finch to deploy them in various situations, adapting to different matchups and game scenarios. Their ability to play at different paces and in different styles makes them a valuable asset for the Timberwolves.
Potential Lineup Changes on the Horizon - Small Ball Coming?
As we approach the trade deadline, there will be speculation regarding a possible Julius Randle trade. In preparation for that possibility, we may start to see more and more of a smaller lineup featuring Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Gobert. While this unit has only played 18 possessions together so far this season, the early returns have been promising - most notably during Sunday’s win over San Antonio.
Might we see head coach Chris Finch begin to deploy this lineup more frequently in the coming weeks? If so, it may portend a potential Randle trade.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ lineup possibilities, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
• The Timberwolves’ recent surge in the Western Conference standings
• Preview of the upcoming game against the Oklahoma City Thunder
• The impact of Josh Minott’s increased playing time
The NBA’s next generation of stars is already here
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. | Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s something that will read like a riddle: When do you know the future has arrived?
Fitting, on the eve of a new year, to have one foot in the future and one eye still cast over the shoulder, looking back at the past. I value New Year’s Eve for this liminal space it lends, the opportunity to pause and consider the year that was and the one to come without a sense yet of its pressures. In-between spaces like this are rare in life, and if or when you find them, are nice not to rush out of.
Basketball has its liminal spaces too, though they’re a bit more rare. The time right after the Draft, when the next season’s rookies-to-be have their teams but no hulking expectations. The brief stretch between the regular season and the playoffs is another — the brackets set, but no competition commenced. It’s easier to tell in these situations when the future arrives, when the liminal space shuts.
But back to the riddle. Under the surface of this season’s NBA discourse, there’s been a persistent hum. With the inevitable aging of the game’s superstars comes the question of who’s next?
What confuses me is that I’ve mainly seen it asked in worry and incredulity, the implication being that there’s no one obvious, or ready, to fill those well-worn shoes. All it takes is a cursory glance at the season’s standings, now firmly set as we shift past the quarter mark, to see that the future is here — and it’s been humming for a while now.
The top four teams in the East and West all boast talent, skill, and star-power. Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most established in terms of their fan familiarity, but Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Green are already on their way to being as regularly recited — and that’s really it.
When the skill and flare of an NBA athlete proves to have staying power, to dazzle consistently, the rest comes down to name recognition, which comes through repetition.
We’ve been saying the same big names for a long time now. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo — their names conjure stats and highlight reels in our heads.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Roundup: Morant’s Injury, Waiver Wire Trends, and Monday’s Game Recaps
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a screen by New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
As we enter the final week of 2024 for fantasy basketball, there’s plenty to discuss. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates, waiver wire trends, and recap Monday’s action.
Ja Morant’s Injury Update
The Memphis Grizzlies received some concerning news about Ja Morant. He’s been diagnosed with a right AC joint sprain in the same shoulder that was reconstructed last season. The team is considering him week-to-week, which typically means a minimum absence of one week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stretches to two or three weeks.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is staggering. In addition to Morant, Marcus Smart is out for multiple weeks, Santi Aldama is week-to-week, and several others are sidelined. This situation could lead to increased opportunities for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Konchar.
Waiver Wire Trends
Looking at the most added players over the last 48 hours, Scoot Henderson tops the list. With the Portland Trail Blazers dealing with injuries, Henderson could see increased minutes. However, I’m skeptical about consistent 30-minute outings for him.
Other notable additions include Scottie Pippen Jr., Justin Champagnie, and Keon Johnson. While Pippen seems like a clear add given the Grizzlies’ injury woes, I’m less convinced about Johnson’s role with the Brooklyn Nets.
On the drop list, Larry Nance Jr. leads the pack due to his broken hand. Brandin Podziemski and Royce O’Neale are also seeing significant drops, which aligns with my expectations.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Wolves podcasts.
Minnesota Timberwolves stage huge comeback but fall to Warriors after late defensive lapses The Minnesota Timberwolves spotted the Golden State Warriors a 22-point lead at the end of the first quarter but still managed to claw back, tying the game in the final frame. But late defensive lapses allowed Steph Curry to lead the Warriors to the victory as the Wolves continue to struggle with both slow starts to contests and late-game execution alike.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have one major area of regression on offense this season... The Minnesota Timberwolves have a mediocre offense so far this season, just as they did last year. However, there is one area in which they were among the NBA’s best last season and are struggling mightily this year. Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) breaks down what it is, and why it’s so important to the Wolves’ success.
Anthony Edwards drops 41, lifts Minnesota Timberwolves past the lowly Wizards The Minnesota Timberwolves started slow but eventually pulled away from the NBA’s worst team as Anthony Edwards dropped 41 points and the Wolves eventually put away the Washington Wizards.
