LaVine written in as Wolves' starting SG but 'a pencil has an eraser'
The hard work of an arduous offseason has paid off for Zach LaVine. Now he just has to maintain that momentum.
Minnesota Timberwolves interim head coach Sam Mitchell revealed Tuesday that he intends to start the sophomore at shooting guard this season, opting to bring veteran Kevin Martin off the bench. And while Mitchell sounded confident in his decision, he also provided himself an out if LaVine struggles.
"I tell him all the time that it's not written in permanent ink, it's pencil," Mitchell said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "I asked him the difference between ink pen and a pencil and he said, 'Coach, a pencil has an eraser.' So I said it's your job until you lose it or give it away.
Starting LaVine should give the Wolves a nice balance of youth and experience in both the starting lineup and second unit. Kevin Garnett, Ricky Rubio, and Andrew Wiggins are set to start, too, though it's not immediately clear if No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns will start at center once Nikola Pekovic is healthy.
That configuration allows Martin, the team's leading scorer a season ago, to be the primary option on the second unit. While he may want to start, being an offensive-minded sixth man could be a great role for him, and he's playing the good soldier in camp, working closely with LaVine to continue pushing him.
"I feel like I proved myself throughout training camp," LaVine said Wednesday. "I feel I had a really good camp. I was out to prove something. ... I know everybody wants to start."
LaVine was forced into playing mostly point guard last season due to injuries, but the 6-foot-5 Slam Dunk Contest champion is better suited to the two. That time as a lead guard likely helped him develop playmaking skills that will be useful on the wing, and his transition play and outside shooting should allow him to fit in as a lower-usage option with the starting group.
In 77 games, LaVine averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 34.1 percent from long-range. He looked to have taken a step forward at summer league, averaging 22 points with a 41.7-percent mark from outside. Because of his role, his averages can't necessarily be expected to increase, but a more refined and efficient approach from LaVine is a reasonable hope for Wolves fans.