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The Minnesota Timberwolves youth movement continued in the off-season as the team landed the number one overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns which could help turn this franchisee around if he reaches his potential alongside rookie of the year Andrew Wiggins.
The Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders discussed the oft-injured center Nikola Pekovic is still dealing with injuries and Grantland’s Zach Lowe asked the head coach what the backup plan would be.
Lowe: So Flip, does Towns get the start?
Saunders: Well, Pek is still hurt. And we have another guy who isn’t bad in Gorgui Dieng.
Obviously Saunders does not want to just hand over the center position he’s an old school coach, but he has a very valid point with Dieng playing at a high level averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds along with one blocked shot per game.
Pekovic has dealt with his fair share of injuries the past couple seasons after signing an extension with the team which may have been pre-mature, but he was a double-double machine for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Saunders has options at the center position, but it’s obvious the clock is ticking until Karl-Anthony Towns will get the starting spot. Dieng will provide the team with a nice spark off the bench once he’s eventually moved there or they can have a nice big man duo if Towns does play a little bit of power forward at times.
Once Pekovic does come back from injury he will move into the rotation, but minutes will be cut down a bit which might be better off for the center.
Just having the thought of a roster with Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns makes me excited for the NBA season to launch already but patience is a virtue and Minnesota Timberwolves fans will need just that as this team will be developing for the next few years.
