If you haven't looked at the Minnesota Timberwolves depth chart lately, you might be in for a shock. Gone are the days of the Twin Towers experiment with Karl-Anthony Towns. As of early 2026, the Wolves are operating a refined, high-octane machine that has them sitting pretty at 27-14, fourth in a brutal Western Conference.
The vibes in Minneapolis are weirdly great right now. We’re talking about a team that just absolutely demolished the Milwaukee Bucks by 33 points while their two biggest stars, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, were chilling on the sidelines. That doesn't happen unless your roster is deep. Like, deep-sea-trench deep.
The Starting Five is basically a cheat code
When everyone is healthy, Chris Finch is running out a lineup that feels tailored to the modern NBA, even with a massive traditional center. Anthony Edwards is the obvious engine. He's averaging nearly 29 points a night and has basically officially entered the "best player in the world" conversation. Honestly, watching him play these days is like watching a video game glitch where one guy is just faster and stronger than everyone else.
But the real magic is the spacing. By slotting Donte DiVincenzo into the starting backcourt, the Wolves have finally unlocked the perimeter. He’s putting up 13.4 points and over 4 assists, acting as a secondary playmaker that takes the pressure off the older Mike Conley.
Then you have the frontcourt. Julius Randle has been a revelation since arriving. He’s not just a scorer; he’s leading the team in assists at 5.7 per game. Pairing him with Jaden McDaniels—who is currently shooting a career-high 41.9% from deep—gives Rudy Gobert all the room he needs to be a menace at the rim. Rudy is still Rudy, vacuuming up 11.4 rebounds and swatting nearly two shots a game.
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Who is actually coming off the bench?
This is where the Minnesota Timberwolves depth chart gets interesting. Most teams fall off a cliff when their starters sit. Minnesota doesn't.
Naz Reid is the Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner again. He’s starting to feel like a starter who just happens to come off the bench for tax purposes. 14.6 points a game? From a backup? That’s absurd.
The guard rotation has also shifted. Bones Hyland has seemingly leapfrogged some of the younger guys. In that recent Bucks blowout, he went off for 23 points and a +41 plus-minus. Plus-41! You can't even do that on Rookie mode in 2K.
Then there’s the youth movement. The Wolves have been integrating their 2025 picks faster than anyone expected.
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- Joan Beringer: The 17th overall pick from France has been a huge surprise. He just put up 13 and 5 in 30 minutes against Giannis. At 19 years old, he looks like the heir apparent to the Gobert throne.
- Rob Dillingham: He’s had a bit of a "muted" role lately, as the scouts call it, but the talent is there. He's still finding his footing in Finch's system, but his 9.8 minutes per game are high-leverage.
- Jaylen Clark: A defensive specialist who is finally getting consistent run (14 minutes per game). He’s the guy you throw at the opposing team's best scorer when McDaniels needs a breather.
The weird injuries and the "Next Man Up" thing
It hasn't been all smooth sailing. Right now, the Minnesota Timberwolves depth chart is being tested by some annoying "maintenance" issues. Anthony Edwards has been dealing with a foot thing that has him sidelined until at least mid-January. Rudy Gobert just finished serving a suspension for a flagrant foul incident against the Spurs—classic Rudy, honestly.
When those guys are out, the hierarchy shifts. Randle becomes the primary offensive hub. DiVincenzo slides into the "go-get-a-bucket" role. It’s a testament to Tim Connelly’s roster construction that they can lose two All-NBA caliber players and still look like a playoff team.
Don't ignore the fringe guys
We have to talk about the veterans and the two-ways because they actually matter for this team. Joe Ingles is 38 and looks like he’s playing at the YMCA, but his 0.8 assists in 4 minutes of action usually lead to a wide-open corner three. He’s the ultimate "locker room guy" who can still give you five good minutes in a pinch.
Johnny Juzang and Enrique Freeman are on two-way contracts, but they’ve seen real NBA minutes this month. It’s a luxury. Most teams are playing their two-way guys because they have to; the Wolves play them because they want to see what they have before the playoffs.
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How the rotation looks for the Houston game
Going into the upcoming matchup against the Rockets, here is how the minutes are likely to shake out. With Edwards still potentially out, expect Hyland and DiVincenzo to see heavy usage.
- Point Guard: Mike Conley starts, but Bones Hyland plays the bulk of the high-energy minutes. Rob Dillingham is the wildcard here.
- Shooting Guard: Donte DiVincenzo is the man. If Edwards is out, Jaylen Clark gets the backup minutes.
- Small Forward: Jaden McDaniels is ironclad here. Terrence Shannon Jr. usually picks up the slack, but he's also dealing with a foot injury right now.
- Power Forward: Julius Randle. He’s playing nearly 34 minutes a night lately. Leonard Miller is the deep backup.
- Center: Rudy Gobert is back from suspension, so he’ll start. Naz Reid will play 25+ minutes regardless of whether he's at the 4 or the 5. Joan Beringer has earned a spot in the regular rotation after his Milwaukee performance.
The real value of this roster
The reason this Minnesota Timberwolves depth chart is ranking so high in efficiency metrics isn't just because of the stars. It’s the flexibility. They can play big with Gobert and Reid, or they can go "small" (which is still huge) with Randle at the five and McDaniels at the four.
Most people get wrong the idea that this is a top-heavy team. It’s actually the opposite. They are 6th in offensive rating and 6th in defensive rating. That kind of balance only comes when your 8th, 9th, and 10th men are actually productive.
What to watch for moving forward
The big question is the trade deadline. With the team performing this well, does Connelly stand pat? Mike Conley is 38. Joe Ingles is 38. There’s a lot of age in the backcourt and on the wing. You might see them look for one more athletic wing if Terrence Shannon Jr.'s injury lingers.
But honestly? If they stay healthy, this might be the best roster in franchise history. Yes, even better than the KG years. The depth is legitimate, the coaching is stable, and they have a superstar who actually wants to be in Minnesota.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Monitor the injury report: With Ant's foot and Shannon Jr.'s status, the wing depth is currently the team's only real "weakness."
- Watch Joan Beringer: He is no longer just a "prospect." If he continues to play 20+ minutes, he changes the team's defensive ceiling when Rudy rests.
- Pay attention to the assists: When Randle and DiVincenzo are both on the floor, the ball moves significantly faster than it did in the KAT era. This is the "new" Wolves identity.