When the Timberwolves added Jordan Hill to the roster late last summer, they already had a number of big men in the fold, including Karl-Anthony Towns, Gorgui Dieng, Adreian Payne, Nemanja Bjelica and the injured Nikola Pekovic. Many saw the signing of Hill as unnecessary, and struggled to see where he would get minutes.
With Pekovic officially ruled out for the season in late September, the Timberwolves had one less big man ahead of Hill; however it remained unclear if Hill or Minnesota native (and fellow new signing) Cole Aldrich would see more of those minutes.