Trey Lyles Is Exactly What the Wolves Needed Off the Bench

Image courtesy of Stephen Lew-Imagn Images By Logan Harlow - 7 hours ago The Minnesota Timberwolves knew their frontcourt would look different this season. Losing Naz Reid and Julius Randle meant Minnesota had to replace significant size, scoring, and versatility. They brought in Jonathan Kuminga to take on a major role, but beyond him, questions remained about who could play reliable minutes at forward. Trey Lyles has size, but coming into the season, it was fair to wonder how much of an answer he would be. Friday night provided a pretty encouraging response. Trey Lyles was a key factor in Minnesota's 115-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, finishing with 13 rebounds, three steals, and a block. Lyles’ production on the glass stood out, but his overall impact mattered more because the Wolves needed him to handle a larger role than usual as the game unfolded. His impact became especially important when Joan Beringer left the game with a nasal fracture . Beringer has given Minnesota another option behind Rudy Gobert , so his absence immediately put more pressure on the rest of the frontcourt. Lyles responded by playing 18 minutes at center in the second half, giving the Timberwolves a smaller lineup without completely sacrificing their ability to compete physically. The Wolves didn’t ask him to replace what Gobert does. Instead, he’s another player Minnesota could trust to stay on the floor and make winning plays. That’s where Lyles' value becomes much more interesting for the Timberwolves. Minnesota will need him to do the less glamorous things that keep the second unit functional with guys like LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels on the bench. He can rebound, defend multiple positions, space the floor, and take pressure off the starters. Lyles checked several of those boxes against New Orleans while giving Chris Finch another option when the game needed a different lineup. His biggest moment came in the fourth quarter. With the Wolves trying to pull away after the Pelicans had taken control for stretches of the third, Lyles finished a pass from Gobert with a dunk that pushed Minnesota's lead to eight during a 15-4 run. It was a simple play, but it highlighted Lyles’ patience and decision-making. Lyles was in the right place, played through contact, and turned an opportunity into two points when the game was still in doubt. Lyles' rebounding might have been his biggest impact last night. The Wolves can't afford to consistently lose the battle for extra possessions, especially with Beringer injured. Lyles' 13 rebounds were huge and gave them another player willing to do that dirty work. Minnesota still has a lot to figure out in its frontcourt. Kuminga remains the starter of the team's new-look forward rotation, and he has continued to be valuable on both ends of the court. But the depth behind them was always going to be a question after the offseason changes, and Beringer's injury has made that question more immediate. If he misses significant time, the Wolves will need someone to absorb those minutes without making the rest of the rotation uncomfortable. Lyles just showed he can do exactly that. It's too early in the season to say that Lyles has addressed one of Minnesota’s frontcourt concerns. But Lyles showed the Wolves they have another experienced player they can trust when injuries stretch the rotation thin over a long season. That could matter a lot more in the coming weeks than it did when the season began. Minnesota didn't know exactly what it would get from Trey Lyles when it signed him, and now, with Joan Beringer sidelined and the frontcourt already much thinner than it was a year ago, his ability to provide dependable minutes could become one of the team's most important depth advantages. By Logan Harlow Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form . minnesota timberwolves nba trey lyles