The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped their second straight game on Saturday, falling 126-123 to the San Antonio Spurs in a tight one. But while the loss stung, it also pulled back the curtain on something deeper: Minnesota’s bench depth-or lack thereof-might be the missing piece in their championship puzzle.
On Amazon Prime’s “NBA on Prime” Sunday broadcast, five-time All-Star John Wall didn’t hold back when breaking down the Timberwolves’ current trajectory.
“They’re a good team,” Wall said, “but I don’t think they’re a contender to win a title. I just think they don’t have enough on their bench. Losing Nickeil [Alexander-Walker] hurt them a lot.”
That’s a sentiment that’s starting to echo across the league. Alexander-Walker, who was recently traded to the Atlanta Hawks, had carved out a meaningful role in Minnesota’s rotation. His departure has left a noticeable void, especially when it comes to perimeter defense and secondary playmaking.
Despite the loss, Anthony Edwards reminded everyone why he’s the heartbeat of this Timberwolves squad. The 22-year-old erupted for a career-high 55 points on 19-of-33 shooting, including a scorching 9-of-16 from deep. He added four rebounds and three assists, but even that wasn’t enough to carry Minnesota across the finish line.
“They’ve got Wemby,” Edwards said postgame. “He’s supposed to be the face of the league.
So I’ve always got to get up for that one. I loved it.
I wish we could have just moved everybody out the way and just checked up - me versus him.”
That kind of competitive fire is exactly what makes Edwards special. But it also underscores the issue: when he’s playing at that level and the Timberwolves still can’t come away with a win, it raises questions about the support around him.
At 27-16, Minnesota is sitting fourth in the Western Conference. That’s a strong position, but the recent back-to-back losses to Western foes have revealed some cracks in the foundation. The current guard rotation-Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Bones Hyland, and rookie Rob Dillingham-has struggled to consistently provide the kind of secondary creation and ball-handling stability the team needs, especially when Edwards is drawing the full attention of opposing defenses.
With the trade deadline looming on February 5, the front office has a decision to make. If this team wants to make a serious run in the postseason, reinforcements are needed. Adding a true playmaking guard could allow Edwards to shift more into an off-ball role at times, where his scoring instincts can thrive without the constant burden of initiation.
Names like Ja Morant, Coby White, and Colin Sexton have reportedly been floated as potential trade targets. While nothing is imminent, those are the types of players who could tilt the balance for Minnesota-giving them the offensive versatility and depth they’ve been missing.
The Timberwolves have a chance to bounce back when they face the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. That kicks off a stretch of three straight home games, including matchups against the Bulls and a back-to-back set with the Warriors. It’s a pivotal stretch-not just for the standings, but for the front office to evaluate what this team needs to truly contend.
Minnesota has the star power. Edwards is ascending, Karl-Anthony Towns is still a matchup nightmare, and Rudy Gobert anchors the defense.
But to make a deep playoff run, it’s going to take more than top-end talent. It’s going to take depth, balance, and the kind of late-season adjustments that separate good teams from great ones.