A summary of Ben Beecken’s (from Locked on Wolves) discussion on Josh Minott and whether he cracks the Minnesota Timberwolves rotation next season

[Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/could-josh-minott-or-wendell-moore-jr-crack-the/id1153019457?i=1000611589764)

Ben thinks Minott has a good chance of cracking the rotation next year as a 3 or 4 taking some of TP’s minutes. Minott can’t provide the shooting and spacing that TP provides, but he has other strengths to contribute (summarized with numbers below). He could play a Brandon Clarke-esque role with his cuts and rebounds. Ben says Josh Minott’s strengths and numbers from college (such as the block and steal rate) tend to project well to the NBA (e.g. Kessler and blocks), even if 33 college games is a small sample size and Minott mostly played off the bench.

# Strengths and numbers from 33 games in college:

I think Ben referred to Minott’s college numbers instead of G-league because Minott only played 9 G-league games this season.

1. ***His biggest asset: Athleticism, size and pogo stick bounce.*** “He has the talent, athleticism and size of someone who could be a lottery pick. He’s a 2nd rounder because he drafted early and didn’t play a ton in college”. **6’8 with 6’11 wingspan.** “He’s shown he knows how to use his size and athleticism to get rebounds, blocks and clog passing lanes with his length.” Fun fact: Hollinger argued Minott is a lottery pick last year even though Minott is really really raw.
2. ***Rebounding.*** **14.4% overall rebounding** (would be top 35 in NBA), **15.7% Dreb** and **12.9% Oreb** (would be 9th in the NBA).
3. ***Blocks.*** Minott’s “crazy” **5.4% block rate**. For context, this would be 9th in the NBA. Only JJJ, Kessler, Claxton, Lopez, Drew Eubanks, Bol Bol, Myles Turner, Robinson have higher rates but *they are all centers.* Comparing college numbers to NBA isn’t always appropriate but it adds context and blocks tend to project well.
4. ***Steals.*** **3.1% steal rate** (would be the best steal rate in the NBA).
5. ***Activity and “nose for the ball”*** (instincts to jump passing lanes, to track down 50-50 balls, be active on the glass, dive on the floor). 13% assist rate (“good for someone off the ball”; league average is 15.4%).

\- Ben: “Wolves do not have many players with the activity of Minott. Minott presents to be a good offball presence. Some of the instincts he has can’t be taught. His instincts combined with the activity is a powerful combination. ”

# Weaknesses:

Mainly shooting. 14% from 3 in college (33 games) and 29% from 3 (9 games in G-league). Ben did not discuss this, but I think fouling is another weakness of Minott.

# Minott’s numbers compared to Jaden McDaniels in college (NOT saying Minott will be better than Jaden):

**Jaden McDaniels:** 4.9% block rate (“still crazy”), 1.4% steal rate, 4% Oreb, 16% dreb, 10.6% total reb.

**Minott:** 5.4% block rate, 3.1% steal rate, 14.4% Oreb, 15.7% Dreb and 12.9% total reb.

Caveats: Jaden likely played against tougher competition and Minott mostly came off the bench. Jaden had a bad year too.

Ben: “But Minott has potential and tools. His instincts + activity is a powerful combo and it’s there at a level that wasn’t there for even Jaden McDaniels initially.”

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by Minute-Decent