The dust is settling for the Wolves in free-agency. After signing Naz Reid and Julius Randle a number of key departures has set the stage for the next iteration of the Wolves.
And just like that, we’ve got clarity. The fog of free agency lifted, the dust has settled, and the Minnesota Timberwolves now officially know what they’re rolling with for the 2025–26 season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker? A Hawk.
Luka Garza? Bound for Boston.
Josh Minott? Release request, granted.
But don’t worry, Joe Ingles is back, baby. Get those inbound passes and jokes ready.
Let’s rewind, though, because this was always going to be a complicated summer. When your team is deep, talented, expensive, and still somehow not quite over the hump, the offseason becomes a glorified episode of Succession — you know someone’s getting pushed out of the family business, the only question is who.
And spoiler: it was NAW.
A Harsh Reality: You Can’t Pay Everyone
Once it became clear that Minnesota was diving headfirst into the luxury tax like it was Scrooge McDuck’s coin vault, it was inevitable: Naz Reid, Julius Randle, or Nickeil Alexander-Walker was going to get left standing when the music stopped.
Well, Naz got his bag (five years, $125 million). And Julius got his too (three years, $100 million). That left NAW, a beloved role player who basically clawed his way into the rotation by playing over-caffeinated defense and hitting enough corner threes to stay relevant, as the odd man out. There just wasn’t room at the inn.
And so, as Shams Charania reported, he signed with the Atlanta Hawks for four years, $62 million. Which, let’s be honest, is a great deal for him and a totally sensible exit for Minnesota. This isn’t NBA 2K. You can’t just turn the cap off. There’s this pesky little thing called the second apron, and once you cross it, you start getting punished like you ate in front of the TV with your mom’s good plates.
The Point Guard Problem (And It’s a Real One)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. At point guard, the Wolves have Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham, and the middle ground is… uh… not exactly secure.
Conley is great. Truly. He calms the floor down like a glass of wine and an Adele album. But he’s 37. And against teams like OKC, where everyone looks like they just got drafted from Hogwarts but can also dunk from the free-throw line, Conley’s legs start to look like they’re carrying two bowling balls.
Meanwhile, Rob Dillingham is… 20. Which is to say, occasionally brilliant, always fast, occasionally out of control, and absolutely not ready to run a contending offense on his own in May.
So what do you do? You can’t really let Anthony Edwards play full-time point. That’s like asking Patrick Mahomes to play center. You want him attacking, creating, jawing with Dillon Brooks, being Ant.
That’s why you’ll probably see the Wolves scoop up a low-cost vet — someone like Tre Mann, Monte Morris, Malcom Brogdon, Chris Paul, Spencer Dinwiddie, or insert your favorite “formerly underrated now moderately washed” point guard here. Just someone to bridge the gap. Someone who can play 15 competent minutes in a playoff series while Ant rests his Gatorade-stained towel on his head.
So… Can They Actually Get Better?
Now for the existential part of the program: Can the Wolves improve on back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances?
Short answer: Maybe?
The West is loaded. OKC isn’t going anywhere. Denver made some smart moves. Houston now has Kevin Durant, and while we don’t know if we’re getting “2017 KD” or “Suns KD,” it’s still KD.
So what’s the play for Minnesota?
- Continuity. They’ve kept the core together. That matters.
- Internal development. TSJ (Terrence Shannon Jr.) and Jaylen Clark have a legit shot to be real contributors, especially with NAW gone.
- Ant’s leap. Last year, he led the league in made threes. This year? Maybe it’s the SGA midrange package. Maybe it’s a post-up game. Maybe it’s averaging 30 and making First Team All-NBA.
Whatever it is, this is his team now. And the Wolves will go as far as Ant-Man and Friends take them.
Final Thought: The A-Rod Era Is Officially Underway
The Alex Rodriguez ownership era is no longer some theoretical, Shark Tank-style footnote — it’s here. This is his team. And guess what?
It’s a real team. With expectations. With hope. With talent. And yeah, with a few question marks (see: point guard, age, apron).
But for the first time in two decades, the Wolves aren’t rebuilding, they’re refining. They’re not praying for lottery luck — they’re fighting for playoff seeding. They’re not wondering who the next star will be — they already have one.
So unfold your Naz Reid Towel. Put on your KG jersey. And get ready for another season of heartbreak, hope, and high-stakes basketball.
Because the Wolves are ready to make another run.
And this time, they just might go all the way.