Biggest potential flaw for Timberwolves ahead of 2024-25 season

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a dramatic change to their roster after enjoying their second-best season in franchise history, swapping Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Looking at their roster, it was a necessary move for a team that has a shocking lack of depth.

Minnesota went into the offseason severely limited in what it could do, thanks to the NBA's CBA restrictions and three players making over $40M. That meant they said goodbye to rotation players Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin, with little room to replace them. Their only veteran signing was 37-year-old Joe Ingles.

That's an issue, particularly since starting point guard Mike Conley Jr. is also 37 years old. Add in Randle, who suffered a season-ending injury in January, plus a playoff injury in 2023, and you've got a short, vulnerable rotation.

DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards can both fill in at point guard, and Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid can cover for both Randle and Rudy Gobert, but the team is going to need contributions from untested players. Namely, No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham, a 19-year-old who will have to grow quickly. Literally, since the 6-foot-1 guard weighed only 164 pounds at the draft combine.

They'll also need Nickeil Alexander-Walker to maintain his improved shooting, and get something from 20-year-old Leonard Miller or rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. The Wolves look great when their top seven players are available, but one or two injuries could seriously derail this squad, which was a below-average offense last season even with the team being remarkably healthy.

The defense should still be great with Gobert and McDaniels as anchors, and Edwards showing the ability to be a tenacious one-on-one defender.

But the offense is still a work in progress, and if the main guys miss time, the Timberwolves' bench lineups could look ugly. At full strength, the Wolves are a clear title contender, but they're going to need their very old and very young players to come through.