Fansided

5 offseason needs for the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Brad Berreman

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 01: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on April 1, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 01: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on April 1, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /

4. Find some shooting

The Timberwolves have finished 19th and 17th in the league in 3-point percentage in the last two seasons, while finishing last (22.5) and 26th in attempts per game (26.5) in those respective campaigns. Thibodeau favored ball dominance and a not-so-modern offense, and Minnesota’s attempts from beyond the arc naturally went up when Saunders took over (29 per game over the final 42 games).

Karl-Anthony Towns made 40 percent from beyond the arc this past season, on 4.6 attempts per game. The only other players to average more than three 3-point attempts per game were Robert Covington (6.7 per game), Andrew Wiggins (4.8), Butler (4.5), Dario Saric (3.7) and Anthony Tolliver (3.3). Covington played 22 games for the Timberwolves after being acquired in the deal for Butler and before going down with a knee injury, Butler of course only played 10 games for the team, Saric was another piece of the Butler deal and Tolliver was a bit player (16.6 minutes per game).

So over a full season with a prominent role, Minnesota’s top two 3-point shooters by volume were Towns and Wiggins (33.9 percent from beyond the arc). Wiggins is simply not an efficient player, as he still takes a lot of long-2s (18.1 percent his shots attempts from 16-plus feet out in 2018-19, but not 3-pointers).

Finding someone, or ideally, more than one someone, who can be more efficient from the perimeter is an overdue need for the Timberwolves. The ability to find those pieces may be limited though.

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