Fresh off reaching their second consecutive Western Conference Finals, the now-eliminated Timberwolves have some interesting questions to answer this summer.
Mark Deeks of HoopsHype and Bobby Marks of ESPN both supplied offseason previews for Minnesota.
Deeks notes that, provided big men Julius Randle and Naz Reid both pick up their player options, the Timberwolves will have seven players drawing eight-figure salaries. Deeks believes that all of the current players under contract are earning solid deals relative to their on-court value. That said, Deeks posits that a trade is likely if Randle picks up his option.
While Meeks notes that Reid could be signed to a contract extension following the draft, he seems likely to earn more if he declines his option and hits free agency.
Marks observes that a currently limited market could compel both players to opt in to their deals, and notes that almost half of the NBA’s teams could have major cap room in 2026.
Per Marks, the growth of rookie wing Terrence Shannon Jr. might make another Minnesota free agent, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, expendable. With 16 clubs currently able to offer Alexander-Walker the $14.1MM non-taxpayer midlevel exception, his future in town looks more tenuous.
There’s more out of Minnesota:
- The Timberwolves’ 30-point Game 5 blowout West Finals defeat to Oklahoma City could obscure what was otherwise an exciting 2024/25 season run, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “Once that buzzer sounds and you’re just able to feel everything, it hurts,” Randle said. “It hurts. So, really, that’s where I’m at right now. It’s almost like a grieving stage of the season and it hurts, really. But we’ll be back.” After trading five-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, a pick, and the later-waived Keita Bates-Diop in a three-team preseason trade with Charlotte, the Timberwolves’ ability to return to the West Finals was in doubt. Instead, Randle shined in the first two rounds of the playoffs, averaging 23.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 5.9 APG and submitting a strong defensive effort. The bloom came off the rose against the Thunder, when the 6’9″ vet averaged 17.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 3.0 APG. Center Rudy Gobert‘s offense was exposed against the Thunder throughout the series. He was limited to just two points in 19 minutes of action during Game 5.
- Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, 37 and in his 18th season, failed to advance after reaching his third career Western Conference Finals. The former All-Star conceded that missing out on his first-ever NBA Finals appearance yet again was painful, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “When I was walking off the floor I was thinking, ‘Not again,’” Conley told Spears. “I know how hard it is. It hurts a lot. I wanted it so bad. I wanted it for these guys.”
- After a disappointing Game 5 performance, three-time All-NBA Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards expressed confidence that he would return to a big postseason stage soon, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I’m 23,” Edwards said. “I get to do it a whole bunch of times. I’m hurt more so for Mike. I came up short for Mike. We tried last year, we couldn’t get it. We tried again this year. We’ll try again next year.”
- Timberwolves stars Randle, Reid and Alexander-Walker all discussed their potential impending free agencies following their official elimination, writes Chris Hine of The Minnesota Star Tribune. Reid seemed to expect that he would decline his option and hit unrestricted free agency, looking for a long-term deal either with the Timberwolves or another team. “I think the work has been put in,” Reid said. “Obviously, I’ve got a long way to go with being only 25, but for sure. I think that’s what the future looks like for me.” Although Reid considers himself a starting-level player, he is apparently open to remaining a reserve in Minnesota. Randle and Alexander-Walker claimed to not have dwelled much on their offseasons yet.