The Minnesota Timberwolves will welcome two new starters into the lineup this season as LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga join the squad.

Ball will start in place of Donte DiVincenzo, who is set to miss the majority of the season after suffering an Achilles tear in the first round of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. Even if DiVincenzo were healthy, Ball would’ve been one of the starting guards alongside Anthony Edwards.

Kuminga joins the starters in place of Julius Randle who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. It looked as if Naz Reid would slide up to a starting role, but he was traded to the Hornets to acquire Ball.

Kuminga signed a two-year deal with Minnesota to start alongside Rudy Gobert.

At his introductory press conference with the team, Kuminga explained why he believes he’s going to be a great fit next to Gobert.

“I can be myself on defense, I can be aggressive, because I know I have a shot blocker and he’s done it so many times… it’s somebody that I’m going to learn how he plays and he’s going to learn how I guard… I think things are going to be way easy for me, and for him… it’s going to be fun, I can’t wait to learn from him,” he said.

Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and even at the age of 34 is heralded as one of the best shot blockers and defensive centers in the league.

Kuminga’s athleticism and ability to jump the passing lanes should be on display with Gobert behind him as he will have someone who can clean up his mistakes.

The Timberwolves have had a top ten defense in each of the past four seasons, including the best defensive in the league in 2023-24.

Simply put, the scheme of Chris Finch and the coaching staff works. Gobert has been a big reason why their defense has been so tough to play against, but Edwards and Jaden McDaniels make things difficult on the perimeter.

Gobert has played alongside Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns in those four seasons, neither of whom are known for their defensive expertise, but have proven that they work in Finch’s scheme.

Both the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors had better defensive ratings with Kuminga on the floor last season. Kuminga should have no problem sliding into that spot next to Gobert, and he should be a better version of Towns and Randle.