Cody Williams Is Taking Advantage Of His Fresh Start In Minnesota

A fresh start in Minnesota could be exactly what Cody Williams needs.

After spending two seasons in Utah, Williams is still trying to find his place in the NBA. The former top-10 pick has shown flashes of the player Utah thought it was getting. Still, he’s been inconsistent, especially on offense.

With the Timberwolves, Williams can carve out a different kind of role. Anthony Edwards has shown confidence that he can do it.

“I just love [Williams’] defensive instincts,” Edwards said when asked who had impressed him at training camp. “I think he could be really good in the NBA.”

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That’s high praise from Minnesota’s leader. However, Edwards also pointed out something Williams still needs to improve.

“His care factor has to go up a little more, just showing it,” Edwards said. “Like you get a stop, let somebody know about it.”

Still, Ant mostly felt positive about Williams.

“He brings intensity every day,” Edwards said. “His defense is incredible.”

Defense could be the key to Williams finding a home in Minnesota.

Williams’ first two seasons in Utah didn’t go exactly as he or the Jazz probably envisioned. In his rookie season, he averaged 5 points per game while shooting 32.3% from the field and 25.9% from three.

However, Williams improved in his second season. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while starting 41 games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eRjf8G7DIk

The shooting still wasn’t there, though. Williams shot only 21.4% from three last season, making it hard for him to consistently impact games when his offense wasn’t clicking. However, I think much of that was because the Jazz were such a mess over the last few years that they asked younger players to take on roles they weren’t ready for. Williams wasn’t ready to be a consistent scoring option every night.

Minnesota doesn’t necessarily need him to score. That could be what makes this opportunity different.

The Wolves already have Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball to create offense, plus skilled guards like Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland off the bench. Meanwhile, Jaden McDaniels is another long wing who can defend at a high level. Williams can focus on the areas that don’t always show up in the box score, whether that is defending multiple positions, making the right pass, running the floor, or bringing energy off the bench.

He will need to make similar reads and do what the Wolves ask of Jonathan Kuminga in the starting lineup. Williams must defend at a high level, rebound, and keep competing even if he doesn’t always get scoring opportunities, because they will come.

In Minnesota’s preseason win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Williams played only 10 minutes but finished with five points, four assists, and two rebounds. His passing stood out, particularly in transition, where he showed he can make plays without holding the ball for long stretches. You could also see the athleticism on defense that piqued Ant’s interest.

Against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, you also saw his athleticism on offense with an absolute poster that upset the defender.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eIoDGEFjc_U

He’s also shown flashes of the athleticism that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of Colorado.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3w7NBG6bLc

Those moments are encouraging, but the Wolves won’t need Williams to make one highlight play every night. They want him to become a dependable rotation piece for the long regular season. His defense could give him a path to being able to.

If Williams can consistently defend, communicate, and bring the intensity Edwards is already seeing in practice, he can earn minutes even as his offense continues to develop. For a young player trying to establish himself, that’s a much easier path to staying on the floor than suddenly becoming a reliable 15-point scorer.

And Edwards’ comments suggest Williams already has the hardest part of that equation.

“He brings intensity every day,” Edwards said.

Now Williams has to show it.

After two seasons searching for himself in Utah, the Timberwolves could finally let Williams find his place in the NBA.