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Guide NBA 2025-26: Minnesota Timberwolves
Wolves: Did the controversial trade pay off?In 2024–25, the Minnesota Timberwolves began their first NBA season since 2014 without Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster. The trade with the New York Knicks, completed at the last minute of the previous offseason, sparked skepticism among fans and analysts alike. After all, Towns was coming off one of […]
Wolves: Did the controversial trade pay off?
In 2024–25, the Minnesota Timberwolves began their first NBA season since 2014 without Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster. The trade with the New York Knicks, completed at the last minute of the previous offseason, sparked skepticism among fans and analysts alike. After all, Towns was coming off one of his best seasons and had helped lead the Wolves to just their second Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history.
However, after a few months of inconsistent performances and uneven results, the trade ultimately proved to be the right move. Minnesota found its rhythm down the stretch on both ends of the floor, finishing sixth in the West with a 49–33 record, avoiding the Play-In Tournament. After the All-Star break, the Timberwolves went 18–8, boasting the third-best offense and fifth-best net rating in the league.
In the playoffs, they opened against the favored Los Angeles Lakers, who featured the newly formed duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James. The Wolves weren’t intimidated and steamrolled the Lakers 4–1, showing remarkable poise and maturity when closing games.
Their next challenge wasn’t easy either — the Golden State Warriors, retooled after acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline. Despite losing Game 1, the Wolves benefited from Stephen Curry’s injury, which sidelined him for the rest of the series. Minnesota capitalized and won in five games.
That set up their second straight trip to the Western Conference Finals, an unprecedented achievement for the franchise. They seemed ready to contend for their first NBA Finals berth, but the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder proved to be a class above. There were concerns before the series, especially about the Wolves’ ability to take care of the ball — and while they performed better than expected in that area, they ultimately fell 4–1 in a largely uncompetitive series.
Still, the postseason runs of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle were bright spots that validated the team’s progress.
Offseason Moves and Analysis
The main motivation behind trading Karl-Anthony Towns was financial flexibility. His departure provided much-needed salary cap relief while also improving the team’s depth. Even so, Minnesota’s front office knew it faced a delicate offseason with key free-agent decisions.
Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — all crucial rotation pieces — entered free agency. Randle, who arrived amid skepticism, arguably had the best season of his career, and his playoff performances made his three-year, $100 million extension in late June a no-brainer.
Then came the team’s biggest dilemma: choosing between Reid and Alexander-Walker. Reid, a fan favorite and the 2024–25 Sixth Man of the Year, had deep roots in Minnesota, having joined the Wolves as an undrafted rookie in 2019. Alexander-Walker, however, had a strong postseason run that boosted his market value.
Ultimately, the Wolves couldn’t afford both and chose to re-sign Reid to a five-year, $125 million deal. Alexander-Walker signed a lucrative contract with the Atlanta Hawks in free agency.
Outside of that, the offseason was relatively quiet. Locker-room favorite Joe Ingles returned on a veteran minimum deal, while Luka Garza and Josh Minott departed for the Boston Celtics. Minnesota still holds its mid-level exception (about $5.6 million), giving them room to add another player — with names like Malcolm Brogdon and Russell Westbrook rumored.
What to Expect in 2025–26 Season?
Expectations are very high. Head coach Chris Finch, entering his sixth season with the Timberwolves, has established himself as one of the NBA’s best coaches and one of the most successful in franchise history — second only to Flip Saunders in both games coached and wins.
While the roster hasn’t necessarily improved, it remains deep and competitive. Rudy Gobert was inconsistent in 2024–25 but is still an elite defender and even showed flashes of dominance on offense, especially in the Lakers series. Jaden McDaniels has developed into one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders and is improving as a shooter — if he can consistently hit corner threes, Minnesota’s offense could reach another level.
Julius Randle faced some early challenges adapting to Finch’s system but finished strong, showcasing scoring, playmaking, and even reliable perimeter shooting. Off the bench, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo headline a solid second unit.
Most importantly, Anthony Edwards has become a bona fide superstar. He’s a complete player — an elite slasher, a strong defender, and now a deadly shooter. Last season, he led the entire NBA with 320 made three-pointers, averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 39.5% from deep. While not a natural playmaker, he showed growth in that area during the playoffs, making better decisions and reducing turnovers.
However, one looming question remains: Mike Conley’s age and durability. Turning 38 soon, Conley’s minutes dropped by over four per game last season and even further in the playoffs (23.7 MPG). Though still an elite floor general, his defensive limitations are becoming more apparent, and his playing time will likely continue to decrease.
Meanwhile, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s departure leaves a 25-minute-per-game gap in the rotation with no clear replacement. Three young players — Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark — will be key in filling that void.
Player to watch: Jaden McDaniels
One of the main effects of Towns’ departure was an expanded offensive role for Jaden McDaniels. He played all 82 games and posted career highs in scoring (12.2 PPG) and usage rate (16.3%). The latter measures how often a player ends a possession through a shot attempt, drawn foul, or turnover.
A key to his improvement has been corner three-point shooting. Before the All-Star break, he shot 30% from that area; afterward, that number climbed to 35.8%, aligning with the team’s late-season offensive surge. In the playoffs, it rose again to 38.9% — a strong sign of progress.
McDaniels remains the Wolves’ top wing defender, often tasked with guarding opposing stars every night. But if he continues to produce consistently on offense, he could be the X-factor that helps Minnesota chase its first-ever NBA title.
Key to Success: Taking Care of the Ball
During the 2024–25 regular season, 14.6% of Minnesota’s possessions ended in turnovers — the 12th-worst rate in the league and third-worst among Western playoff teams, ahead of only the Clippers and Grizzlies.
The four teams with the lowest turnover rates were the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and Cleveland Cavaliers — respectively, the reigning champion, the previous champion, a Finals contender, and the East’s top seed.
In the playoffs, the Wolves’ turnover rate climbed even higher to 16.3%. The only teams worse were the Pistons, Heat, and Grizzlies, all eliminated in the first round (two via sweeps). The Thunder’s title run, meanwhile, underscored how crucial points off turnovers have become in the modern NBA.
Turnovers alone don’t define a team’s success — but, as recent champions have shown, ball security is a strong indicator of which teams are truly built to compete at the highest level.
