The Minnesota Timberwolves could wind up being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the NBA’s expansion push, and not just because of what happens on the floor.
The league is exploring the addition of a 31st and 32nd team for the 2028-29 season, with Seattle and Las Vegas viewed as the most likely landing spots. If that happens, the Wolves would have a real shot at moving to the Eastern Conference. That alone would change the shape of their path, taking them out of a conference with Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander standing in the way.
The financial side may be even more striking. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that bidders for a Las Vegas franchise have been told expansion fees could climb above $8 billion.
Seattle, with a smaller market, could come with lower fees, but Windhorst still estimated the process could generate between $15 billion and $18 billion in revenue for existing teams to share. For Minnesota, that could mean an extra $500 million to $600 million - money that would arrive at a useful time.
The Wolves have plenty of costs coming due. After controlling owners Mac Stad and Alex Rodriguez acquired the majority share of the franchise from Marc Lore for $4.5 billion earlier this summer, Stad has already approved a Jonathan Kuminga signing.
But there are bigger financial commitments ahead. Spotrac estimates the team’s luxury tax bill at $23.3 million this season, and the combined payroll and tax could reach $238.6 million.
That number could get much larger. Anthony Edwards could become eligible for a supermax contract next summer, though the deal would not begin until 2029.
If he plays in 65 games and makes an All-NBA team or wins a major individual award such as MVP, he’d qualify for a four-year, $301 million extension. The Wolves may also have to sort out extensions for LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels, whose deals expire after the 2028-29 season.
There are off-court expenses, too. Tim Connelly is in the final year of his contract as president of basketball operations, and while he has an incentive to stay because of the “phantom equity” in his deal, a new agreement could use the same structure and push his total value over $60 million.
That kind of money is no small matter, but it still pales next to the cost of a new arena to replace Target Center, which could run from $1 billion to $2 billion. CNBC previously reported that the Timberwolves operated at a deficit of $56 million during the 2024-25 season, a reminder that the business side has plenty of weight behind it.
From a basketball standpoint, the move would still help. A shift to the Eastern Conference would mean fewer late nights for fans and a better chance to build rivalries with teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Detroit Pistons.
And if the NBA also moves forward with plans for a 16-team league in Europe, that could open the door to even more money flowing into the system. For Minnesota, that makes the expansion conversation about more than geography. It could become a real financial boost at exactly the right time.
In Other News...
Jonathan Kuminga Is Now Pushing Back On A Warriors Contract Claim
Jonathan Kumingas contract situation has taken another twist, and the latest turn only adds to the confusion around what was actually offered and what was actually rejected. The back-and-forth has become a story not just about negotiations, but about how the messages from Kuminga and his camp have lined up, or failed to line up, as reports have surfaced about his options.
Kuminga reportedly texted Darren Moore, Lonzo Balls manager, to say he never turned down any offers at all. That directly cuts against the earlier framing from his agent, Aaron Turner, who had indicated Kuminga passed on higher-value possibilities, including reported deals tied to the Warriors and Lakers. For Minnesota fans tracking the broader Western Conference picture, it is another reminder that the offseason business around a key opponent can still shape the landscape long after the headlines first break. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Face A Tough Protection Call As Expansion Looms
With the NBA planning to add teams in Seattle and Las Vegas for the 2028-29 season, the expansion draft conversation is already forcing teams to think a little differently about their rosters. For Minnesota, the exercise is straightforward at the top end and messy at the margins, with six players looking like clear protection choices if the league were doing this today.
The intrigue comes with the last two spots, where the Timberwolves would have to balance upside, fit and roster stability. Jonathan Kuminga sits in that debate, but so do Terrence Shannon Jr. and Donte DiVincenzo, and the current version of the roster is only a snapshot anyway. By the time expansion actually arrives, Minnesotas priorities and personnel will almost certainly look different. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kumingas Wolves Decision Leaves One Lakers Question Hanging
The Timberwolves added another forward with the announcement of Jonathan Kumingas signing, and they even revealed hell wear No. 24. Kuminga arrives after finishing his fifth NBA season with stops in Atlanta and Golden State, and the move immediately stood out because he reportedly had other suitors in the mix, including the Lakers, Bulls and Trail Blazers.
What made the story linger was the money angle attached to the Lakers chatter, which had fueled the idea that Minnesota won out over a bigger pitch. Kuminga pushed back on that version of events, saying the deal narrative was not accurate, leaving the exact shape of the offseason pursuit and what was actually on the table as the part still hanging over the signing. [Read more 🡒]