The Timberwolves are entering the season with one of the widest ranges of outcomes in the NBA, and Chris Finch didn’t exactly talk his way out of that idea.
In a sit-down interview with Britt Robson of MinnPost, Finch was asked about Minnesota’s ceiling and floor. His response was brief, but it said plenty: "[Quietly] Yeah."
That’s the reality for this team. The Wolves can look like a legitimate contender if a few major pieces click.
They can also spiral fast if the wrong breaks hit. The gap between those two versions of Minnesota is enormous.
At the top end, the whole thing starts with pace. If the Timberwolves get out and run more often, they should create more easy baskets and cleaner 3-point looks. The addition of star-level point guard LaMelo Ball, along with Jonathan Kuminga stepping into the starting lineup for Julius Randle, is the setup that could make that style sustainable all season long.
Ball would bring the kind of offensive efficiency that Charlotte had with him on the floor, and his presence would also take some pressure off Anthony Edwards. In this version of the season, Edwards crosses the 30-points-per-game mark for the first time.
The offense, which ranked 14th in offensive rating in 2025-26, jumps into the top five. Edwards is more locked in defensively, Kuminga gives Minnesota a clear upgrade over Randle on that end, and the result is a top-five defense to go with the improved attack.
Even the bench looks stronger. Naz Reid is gone from that super-sub role, but the second unit still has a real chance to be one of the team’s best in years.
Ayo Dosunmu, after what he showed for Minnesota after arriving in February, looks like more than enough to handle a bench job. He would still be playing 25-30 minutes a night, while Terrence Shannon Jr. takes another step and starts scoring in double figures on a regular basis.
If everything lines up perfectly, the championship conversation at least comes into view. That said, the source of that kind of leap isn’t entirely in Minnesota’s hands, since it could also require bad injury luck for teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. A third conference finals trip in the last four years, though, is clearly on the table.
The downside is just as real, and Ball is at the center of it. As much as he can change the offense, his injury history makes him the biggest swing factor in the entire season. If that history shows up again, he could miss half the year and the Wolves may never fully find their rhythm with him.
There are other trouble spots too. Joan Beringer will still be only 20 years old early in the season, and he may not be ready for a major role. If Minnesota can’t land a dependable backup big by the trade deadline, Trey Lyles could wind up spending time at center, where rim protection would be an issue.
The coaching situation could also shift in a way that hurts Minnesota. Micah Nori, described here as a superb head coach, could help the Portland Trail Blazers rise, and Finch would feel the loss of his leadership on the sideline.
Then there’s Rudy Gobert. At 34, the possibility of decline becomes part of the equation. In the worst case, he’s no longer in the All-Defensive conversation and his scoring drops into single digits.
That kind of season leaves the Timberwolves in the play-in mix, where the margin for error disappears quickly. If they fall short of the playoffs altogether, the fallout could be serious, with heads rolling and the possibility that the team looks for a new head coach.
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 🡒]