MIN Timberwolves #8 of 30
Projected wins
48.6
FanDuel 50.5 (o+165 / u-195) · record 3-1
Net rating
+2.84
avg over remaining games · 50% DARKO DPM + 50% DARKO market · DARKO off +3.49 · def +1.43
Next game / full strength
+1.15 / +3.45
2026-10-28 vs GSW (Monster daily minutes) · out: Anthony Edwards; Donte DiVincenzo
DARKO vs market
+3.58 / +2.10
net on DPM alone / market alone · wins 50.3 / 47.0
Minutes covered
18,720
of 18,720 remaining · fill 0 @ replacement
Roster
17
0 rookies on model/prior
Schedule
+0.11
avg opp net · 2 games unscheduled
ETR minutes mix
78% ETR
13% MPG from ETR FPPG · 9% ETR depth fill
ETR box (rated players)
98 pts
33 reb · 21 ast · 10.3 3pm · 78% of minutes
Roster assumptions minutes: per game: role MPG = mean of ETR + Monster ROS + ros_return, availability from Monster ROS (injury timelines); slate 10-28 (24 teams) on Monster daily minutes, pulled 10-28 15:39 · ETR per-game stats · rating = 50% DARKO DPM + 50% DARKO market per 100 poss · contrib = 5 × rating × minute share · names link to DataBallr
| Player | ETR slot | Pos | Age | GP | MPG | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | TO | FG% z | FT% z | FPPG | 9-cat rk | Share % | DPM | Mkt | Rating | O | D | O ctb | D ctb | Contrib |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | SG1 | G | 25 | 67 | 35.4 | 2,361 | 28.3 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 3.0 | -0.35 | +0.58 | 44.5 | 7 | 12.6 | +5.18 | +4.03 | +4.61 | +5.29 | -0.10 | +3.33 | -0.06 | +2.91 |
| Jaden McDaniels | SF1 | F | 26 | 69 | 32.7 | 2,258 | 14.4 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | +0.36 | +0.09 | 29.0 | 67 | 12.1 | +0.68 | +0.27 | +0.47 | -0.26 | +0.94 | -0.16 | +0.57 | +0.29 |
| Rudy Gobert | C1 | C | 34 | 65 | 31.9 | 2,080 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 1.4 | +1.43 | -1.86 | 33.4 | 88 | 11.1 | +2.69 | +2.81 | +2.75 | -1.18 | +3.87 | -0.65 | +2.15 | +1.53 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | SG2 | G | 26 | 68 | 29.6 | 2,004 | 14.4 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | +0.23 | +0.19 | 27.0 | 110 | 10.7 | -0.58 | -1.43 | -1.00 | -0.02 | -0.56 | -0.01 | -0.30 | -0.54 |
| LaMelo Ball | PG1 | G | 25 | 59 | 30.9 | 1,830 | 23.0 | 5.3 | 8.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 3.8 | 3.3 | -1.81 | +0.73 | 43.6 | 29 | 9.8 | +2.93 | +4.53 | +3.73 | +3.24 | -0.30 | +1.59 | -0.15 | +1.82 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | PF1 | F | 24 | 61 | 27.4 | 1,676 | 14.6 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.8 | +0.01 | -0.49 | 25.9 | 230 | 9.0 | +0.06 | +1.24 | +0.65 | +0.04 | +0.01 | +0.02 | +0.01 | +0.29 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr.mpg from ETR FPPG | SF2 | G | 26 | 65 | 21.3 | 1,375 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 16.7 | – | 7.3 | -1.55 | -2.58 | -2.06 | +0.07 | -1.62 | +0.03 | -0.59 | -0.76 |
| Joan Beringer | C2 | F | 19 | 65 | 19.0 | 1,231 | 9.9 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | +1.15 | -0.42 | 23.0 | 177 | 6.6 | -0.48 | -2.63 | -1.55 | +0.38 | -0.86 | +0.12 | -0.28 | -0.51 |
| Bones Hyland | PG2 | G | 26 | 62 | 17.3 | 1,070 | 8.3 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.1 | -0.44 | +0.08 | 16.3 | 286 | 5.7 | +0.34 | -1.52 | -0.59 | +0.29 | +0.06 | +0.08 | +0.02 | -0.17 |
| Trey Lylesmpg from ETR FPPG | PF2 | F | 30 | 59 | 17.7 | 1,040 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15.8 | – | 5.6 | -0.23 | -0.73 | -0.48 | -0.67 | +0.45 | -0.19 | +0.13 | -0.13 |
| Jaylen ClarkETR depth fill | SF4 | G | 25 | 44 | 12.6 | 562 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3.0 | -0.30 | -2.12 | -1.21 | -0.86 | +0.56 | -0.13 | +0.08 | -0.18 |
| Cody WilliamsETR depth fill | SF3 | F | 21 | 43 | 12.7 | 554 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3.0 | -2.67 | -2.00 | -2.33 | -1.82 | -0.85 | -0.27 | -0.13 | -0.34 |
| Enrique Freemandarko_feb2026ETR depth fill | PF3 | F | 26 | 38 | 5.9 | 226 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1.2 | -2.03 | – | -2.03 | -1.43 | -0.60 | -0.09 | -0.04 | -0.12 |
| Rocco ZikarskyETR depth fill | C3 | C | 20 | 43 | 4.2 | 182 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1.0 | -0.67 | -2.66 | -1.67 | -1.71 | +1.04 | -0.09 | +0.05 | -0.08 |
| Isaiah EvansETR depth fill | SG4 | F | 20 | 21 | 7.3 | 152 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.8 | -1.73 | -1.57 | -1.65 | -1.73 | +0.00 | -0.07 | +0.00 | -0.07 |
| Zyon PullinETR depth fill | SG3 | G | 25 | 21 | 4.7 | 97 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.5 | -1.96 | -4.20 | -3.08 | -1.34 | -0.62 | -0.03 | -0.02 | -0.08 |
| Donte DiVincenzoINJ 75g · back 04-07mpg from ETR FPPG | SG1 | G | 29 | 1 | 20.0 | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.1 | +1.49 | +2.36 | +1.92 | +0.18 | +1.30 | +0.00 | +0.01 | +0.01 |
| Team | 18,720 | 97.9 | 33.5 | 21.2 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 10.3 | 11.2 | 100 | +4.92 | +2.79 | +3.49 | +1.43 | +3.86 |
PTS–TO are ETR per-game projections (recovered from ETR's 9-cat z-scores; blank = outside ETR's 9-cat top 300; method on the Inputs page). Team row = Σ(per-game × games)/82. Rating = 50% DARKO DPM + 50% DARKO market rating (DARKO's player rating implied by closing betting spreads, per 100 poss); DPM alone where DARKO has no market rating. Team row under DPM / Mkt = Σ contrib on that rating alone. O/D ctb split DARKO's DPM (the market rating has no O/D split), so they add up to the DPM side, not the blended contrib. Fill of 0 minutes at replacement DPM (-2.2) contributes -0.00. GP / MPG / Min are expected over the remaining games: each game's 240 minutes go to whoever is available (see Injuries & availability), so a player's rating only counts in the games he is projected to play. League-relative centering shifts every team by the same constant.
Injuries & availability Monster return dates · games played so far · chance to play each game = half Monster, half ETR preseason · role MPG = ETR + Monster
| Player | Inj | Risk | Out until | Games out | Played | Mon % | ETR % | Avail % | Next % | Exp GP | Season G | ETR G | Mon G | ETR MPG | Mon MPG | Role MPG | Exp min | Monster note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donte DiVincenzo | INJ 75g | high | 2027-04-07 | 75 | 0 | 67 | 13 | 40 | 0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 11 | 2 | 20.4 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 24 | Injured - achilles tear (Injury) - Est. Return 04/07 |
| Anthony Edwards | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 85 | 86 | 0 | 66.6 | 70.6 | 70 | 69 | 35.9 | 35.0 | 35.4 | 2,361 | |||
| Jaden McDaniels | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 100 | 69.1 | 73.1 | 73 | 69 | 32.3 | 33.0 | 32.6 | 2,258 | |||
| Rudy Gobert | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 100 | 65.2 | 69.2 | 69 | 65 | 31.8 | 32.0 | 31.9 | 2,080 | |||
| LaMelo Ball | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 68 | 76 | 100 | 59.2 | 63.2 | 57 | 65 | 31.8 | 30.0 | 30.9 | 1,830 | |||
| Ayo Dosunmu | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 85 | 86 | 100 | 67.6 | 71.6 | 70 | 69 | 30.2 | 29.0 | 29.6 | 2,004 | |||
| Jonathan Kuminga | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 73 | 78 | 100 | 61.2 | 65.2 | 61 | 65 | 25.6 | 29.0 | 27.3 | 1,676 | |||
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 77 | 83 | 100 | 64.7 | 68.7 | 64 | 69 | 20.4 | 22.0 | 21.2 | 1,375 | |||
| Joan Beringer | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 77 | 83 | 100 | 64.7 | 68.7 | 64 | 69 | 20.2 | 18.0 | 19.1 | 1,231 | |||
| Trey Lyles | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 62 | 75 | 100 | 58.8 | 62.8 | 52 | 69 | 19.5 | 16.0 | 17.8 | 1,040 | |||
| Bones Hyland | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 69 | 79 | 100 | 61.7 | 65.7 | 58 | 69 | 16.8 | 18.0 | 17.4 | 1,070 | |||
| Jaylen Clark | med | 0 | 3 | 56 | – | 56 | 100 | 44.4 | 47.4 | – | 44 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | 562 | |||
| Cody Williams | med | 0 | 3 | 56 | – | 56 | 0 | 43.4 | 46.4 | – | 44 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | 554 | |||
| Isaiah Evans | med | 0 | 3 | 27 | – | 27 | 0 | 20.7 | 23.7 | – | 21 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 152 | |||
| Enrique Freeman | 0 | 0 | – | – | 50 | 0 | 38.5 | 38.5 | – | – | 11.7 | – | 11.7 | 226 |
Before his est. return a player gets none of this team's games (Q: half), so his rating comes out of exactly those games and his minutes go to whoever is available (bench first, starters stretch up to +20%). Once healthy he plays Avail % of games: half Monster's rest-of-season rate, half ETR's preseason games (less the games he has already played, which are settled; for a player coming back from an injury, ETR's per-game rate). Monster ROS dump 2026-10-27 11:46 ET (1.2 days old), 522 rostered, 58 with an est. return.
ETR notes Gallagher Top 150 + ETR depth chart
| Anthony Edwards | Gallagher #9 | Will lose some assist/handling to LaMelo and injury track record took a hit last year, but safe bet at age 25 |
| Jaden McDaniels | Gallagher #78 | Finch says he wants him to lead the team and no reason to think he can't improve on career-high USG%/TS% |
| Rudy Gobert | Gallagher #77 | Nobody wants to draft him but he's money in the bank and he'll play a lot with lack of PF/C depth |
| Ayo Dosunmu | Gallagher #117 | My pick to win 6MOY and Finch will play him a ton; wheels up if/when LaMelo misses time |
| LaMelo Ball | Gallagher #24 | Will be interesting to see how minutes-happy Finch plays LaMelo after CHA successfully managed him |
| Donte DiVincenzo | Depth chart | Could miss 2026-27 season for Achilles tear |
ETR depth chart ETR order · minutes the model uses
PG
LaMelo Ball
30.9 mpg × 59 g = 1,830
Bones Hyland
17.3 mpg × 62 g = 1,070
SG
Anthony Edwards
35.4 mpg × 67 g = 2,361
Ayo Dosunmu
29.6 mpg × 68 g = 2,004
Zyon Pullin 2W
4.7 mpg × 21 g = 97
Isaiah Evans
7.3 mpg × 21 g = 152
Donte DiVincenzo IR
20.0 mpg × 1 g = 24
SF
Jaden McDaniels
32.7 mpg × 69 g = 2,258
Terrence Shannon Jr.
21.3 mpg × 65 g = 1,375
Cody Williams
12.7 mpg × 43 g = 554
Jaylen Clark
12.6 mpg × 44 g = 562
PF
Jonathan Kuminga
27.4 mpg × 61 g = 1,676
Trey Lyles
17.7 mpg × 59 g = 1,040
Enrique Freeman 2W
5.9 mpg × 38 g = 226
C
Rudy Gobert
31.9 mpg × 65 g = 2,080
Joan Beringer
19.0 mpg × 65 g = 1,231
Rocco Zikarsky 2W
4.2 mpg × 43 g = 182
Schedule 4 played · each remaining game uses both teams' nets for that date (who is out) · win prob from net-rating gap + 2.3 HCA, sd 12.5
| Date | Opp (net that game) | Our net | Win % | Result | Our players out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 | @ MIA +0.5 | 50% | W 131-106 | ||
| 2026-10-23 | @ ORL +0.7 | 49% | W 115-93 | ||
| 2026-10-25 | vs TOR +2.5 | 58% | W 117-94 | ||
| 2026-10-26 | @ CLE +2.3 | 44% | L 125-127 | ||
| 2026-10-28 | vs GSW +1.2 | +1.1 | 57% | Monster tonight Anthony Edwards; Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-10-30 | vs LAC -4.2 | +2.8 | 77% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-10-31 | @ SAS +5.9 | +2.8 | 33% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-02 | vs MIL -6.5 | +2.8 | 82% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-04 | @ HOU +4.4 | +2.8 | 38% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-06 | @ NOP -4.7 | +2.8 | 66% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-08 | vs UTA -4.7 | +2.8 | 78% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-12 | vs DAL -4.6 | +2.8 | 78% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-14 | vs CHI -5.2 | +2.8 | 80% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-16 | vs POR +2.4 | +2.8 | 59% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-17 | vs POR +2.4 | +2.8 | 59% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-19 | vs NYK +5.0 | +2.8 | 50% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-21 | vs MEM -3.4 | +2.8 | 75% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-23 | vs BKN -5.7 | +2.8 | 81% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-25 | @ OKC +4.7 | +2.8 | 37% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-27 | vs MEM -3.4 | +2.8 | 75% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-11-29 | @ SAC -8.4 | +2.8 | 76% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-01 | @ POR +2.4 | +2.8 | 44% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-02 | @ LAC -4.4 | +2.8 | 65% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-12 | @ PHX -0.8 | +2.8 | 54% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-14 | @ UTA -4.4 | +2.8 | 65% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-16 | vs LAL +2.3 | +2.8 | 59% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-18 | vs LAL +2.3 | +2.8 | 59% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-21 | vs PHX -0.8 | +2.8 | 68% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-23 | @ MIL -6.5 | +2.8 | 71% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-25 | vs OKC +4.7 | +2.8 | 51% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-27 | @ GSW -0.2 | +2.8 | 52% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-28 | @ DEN +3.4 | +2.8 | 41% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2026-12-31 | vs DEN +3.4 | +2.8 | 55% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-02 | @ IND -0.0 | +2.8 | 52% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-03 | vs SAS +5.9 | +2.8 | 48% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-05 | @ HOU +5.3 | +2.8 | 35% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-07 | @ TOR +2.8 | +2.8 | 43% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-08 | @ WAS -5.1 | +2.8 | 67% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-11 | vs CLE +2.3 | +2.8 | 59% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-14 | @ CHI -5.2 | +2.8 | 68% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-16 | @ PHI +2.5 | +2.8 | 44% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-18 | @ NYK +5.0 | +2.8 | 36% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-20 | vs HOU +5.3 | +2.8 | 50% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-22 | @ SAS +5.9 | +2.8 | 33% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-24 | @ DET +3.8 | +2.8 | 40% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-25 | @ MEM -3.4 | +2.8 | 62% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-27 | vs DEN +3.4 | +2.8 | 55% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-29 | vs CHA -0.2 | +2.8 | 66% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-01-31 | vs PHX -0.8 | +2.8 | 68% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-02 | @ POR +2.4 | +2.8 | 44% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-04 | @ SAC -8.4 | +2.8 | 76% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-06 | vs MIA +0.5 | +2.8 | 64% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-07 | vs UTA -4.4 | +2.8 | 78% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-09 | @ BKN -5.7 | +2.8 | 69% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-12 | @ BOS +6.3 | +2.8 | 32% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-15 | @ CHA -0.2 | +2.8 | 52% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-18 | vs SAS +5.9 | +2.8 | 48% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-26 | vs IND +0.1 | +2.8 | 66% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-02-28 | vs BOS +6.3 | +2.8 | 46% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-02 | @ OKC +4.7 | +2.8 | 37% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-05 | @ PHX -0.5 | +2.8 | 53% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-07 | @ DEN +3.4 | +2.8 | 41% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-08 | vs NOP -4.6 | +2.8 | 78% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-10 | vs ATL +0.8 | +2.8 | 64% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-13 | vs PHI +2.5 | +2.8 | 58% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-14 | vs WAS -5.1 | +2.8 | 79% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-16 | @ NOP -4.6 | +2.8 | 66% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-18 | @ UTA -4.4 | +2.8 | 65% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-22 | vs DET +3.8 | +2.8 | 54% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-24 | vs DAL -4.3 | +2.8 | 78% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-26 | vs ORL +1.0 | +2.8 | 63% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-28 | vs OKC +4.7 | +2.8 | 51% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-29 | @ ATL +0.8 | +2.8 | 49% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-03-31 | vs SAC -8.4 | +2.8 | 86% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-04-02 | vs GSW +1.2 | +2.8 | 62% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-04-04 | @ DAL -4.3 | +2.8 | 65% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-04-06 | @ LAC -3.0 | +2.8 | 61% | Donte DiVincenzo | |
| 2027-04-07 | @ LAL +2.3 | +3.4 | 46% | ||
| 2027-04-09 | @ LAL +2.3 | +3.4 | 46% | ||
| 2027-04-11 | vs HOU +5.3 | +3.4 | 51% |
ETR preseason breakdown usage · minutes · who plays together · player by player · pace & shots, from Gallagher's game-by-game change log (Sept 28 – Oct 16)
Bottom line: A clear top eight with a big gap behind it. Ant is staggered from LaMelo and is a usage monster (33.5%, second only to Luka), and McDaniels is emerging as a third scorer.
Usage & ball-handling
- Anthony Edwards: 38.6% usage in the opener and 33.5% for the preseason, second only to Luka among players with 18+ MPG. He says he'll be more on-ball without LaMelo ("back to my point-guard skills").
- LaMelo Ball: handled a lot but with low usage (18.6% in the opener). ETR doesn't expect his Charlotte-level usage here.
- Jaden McDaniels: 19 first-half points vs NYK, punishing OG for helping off him. He's being used more as a scorer, making a three-man usage core with LaMelo and Ant.
- Jonathan Kuminga: squeezed for usage and shot 1-of-8 once. Ayo Dosunmu should cut into his minutes.
- Cody Williams: zero usage but good defense.
Minutes & rotation
- Starters: LaMelo, Edwards, McDaniels, Kuminga, Rudy Gobert.
- Top eight: the starters plus Ayo Dosunmu (15:39 in a first half off the bench), Terrence Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer (all the non-Gobert minutes; Finch says "strictly as a five").
- Ninth man: Trey Lyles (PF2) has the edge. Bones Hyland (Finch says he'll have a role, and LaMelo's minutes were trimmed a bit for him) and Cody Williams are behind. Jaylen Clark fell out and played no first-half minutes in the finale.
- LaMelo's minutes run just below Edwards'.
Who plays together
- Edwards is staggered from LaMelo to run his own units.
- Finch tried brief stretches with neither star, using Shannon and Dosunmu as handlers.
- LaMelo-to-Gobert lobs are a new wrinkle.
- McDaniels takes the toughest perimeter assignment (he was primary on Brunson).
Pace & shot selection
- ETR logged little team pace or shot data for Minnesota. Detroit's Duren beat up Gobert (24 points in 15 minutes) in one game.
Player by player
| Player | Model GP | Model MPG | Model min | Preseason read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | 67 | 35.4 | 2,361 | 33.5% usage, more on-ball when LaMelo sits. |
| LaMelo Ball | 59 | 30.9 | 1,830 | Facilitator, lower usage than in Charlotte. |
| Jaden McDaniels | 69 | 32.7 | 2,258 | Big preseason. Third scorer and top defender. |
| Rudy Gobert | 65 | 31.9 | 2,080 | Starting C. Lob target for LaMelo. Very durable. |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 61 | 27.4 | 1,676 | Starter, usage squeeze. Dosunmu will eat some of his minutes. |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 68 | 29.6 | 2,004 | Sixth man, big bench minutes. |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | 65 | 21.3 | 1,375 | Top-eight wing. |
| Joan Beringer | 65 | 19.0 | 1,231 | C2 lock, strictly a five. |
| Trey Lyles | 59 | 17.7 | 1,040 | Favorite for the ninth spot (PF2). |
| Bones Hyland | 62 | 17.3 | 1,070 | Fringe, but Finch promised him a role. |
Preseason starting lineups
| Game | Opp | Starters | Out (ETR's noteworthy inactives) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5 | MIL | LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert | |
| Oct 7 | IND | LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert | |
| Oct 10 | MIA | Bones Hyland, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, Trey Lyles, Joan Beringer | LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels |
| Oct 12 | NYK | LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Cody Williams, Rudy Gobert | Jonathan Kuminga, Terrence Shannon Jr. |
| Oct 14 | DET | LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert |
Summarized from ETR's 2026-27 Change Log and Preseason News (pulled Oct 18). Preseason minutes are mostly first-half numbers since starters rarely play second halves. Model GP/MPG/min are the ETR season projections this model uses, so the read shows where preseason usage agrees or disagrees with the minutes driving the win total. Projection moves ETR made during the preseason are noted under Minutes.