The Minnesota Timberwolves entered Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals relying on a tight eight-man rotation, a group they had leaned on all series against San Antonio. That core—starters plus Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Mike Conley—was expected to carry the load again as they fought to extend their season. Add Donte DiVincenzo to the mix, and you have a solid top nine that could easily roll into the 2026-27 campaign if the Wolves ran it back with the same roster.

But in the NBA, nothing stays the same for long. Minnesota may look to reshuffle its deck, perhaps trading depth for a high-impact player to pair with Anthony Edwards. Conley, if he re-signs, could see his role shrink due to age, at least during the regular season. Injuries, too, always lurk. Beyond that top nine, Bones Hyland and Kyle Anderson have been regular contributors but were largely sidelined in the San Antonio series due to matchup issues. Both are free agents who could return.

So what about the rest of the bench? The Wolves have a handful of depth pieces who rarely saw meaningful minutes this season outside of garbage time or injury emergencies. Could any of them step into a future rotation role? Let's break down what to expect from the guys at the end of the bench.

Jaylen Clark
Clark logged 68 games this season, including meaningful playoff minutes in four contests. He's Minnesota's go-to for perimeter defense. His on-ball skills allow the team to get creative with Jaden McDaniels, a huge plus for any squad aiming to be elite on that end. The downside? He fouls too often, and his offense is still a work in progress. Clark shot 46% from three over his final 18 regular-season games, but that consistency needs to stick to earn Chris Finch's trust as a regular. As a restricted free agent, Clark is likely back next year in a similar end-of-rotation role. But with DiVincenzo expected to miss the first half of the season, Clark could carve out more consistent minutes.

Josh Minott
Minott appeared in 40 games during his rookie campaign but saw more than 10 minutes in just seven of them. He got a few spot starts when Rudy Gobert was out and when the Wolves rested their starting frontcourt late in the season. Minott brings high energy and athleticism, a spark-plug type who can crash the boards and run the floor. His offensive game is raw, but his hustle could earn him a deeper look if Minnesota needs a jolt off the bench. For now, he's a developmental piece with upside, but a consistent rotation spot likely remains a season or two away.