The Timberwolves keep circling the summit, but they still haven’t planted a flag there.
Over the past three seasons, Minnesota has made the conference finals twice, only to get turned back by the Mavericks and the Thunder. Last year, the run ended earlier, with the Spurs knocking them out in the conference semifinals.
The front office has kept swinging. Before the 2024-25 season, the Timberwolves moved Karl-Anthony Towns and his massive contract to the Knicks and effectively swapped him out for Julius Randle. Towns ended up winning a ring, while Minnesota kept chasing one of its own.
This summer brought another major overhaul. Randle was shipped out in a four-team trade, and the team also parted with Naz Reid and most of its draft capital to bring in LaMelo Ball. It was a big bet on a dynamic guard whose talent is obvious, even if injuries have followed him.
Minnesota also made another notable addition last week, agreeing to sign Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga’s path here has already been a winding one: he went through a drawn-out restricted free agency standoff with the Warriors last offseason before signing a short-term deal, was traded to Atlanta in midseason, and then hit free agency again before landing with the Timberwolves on a team-friendly contract.
Now the whole thing comes down to fit. The biggest question is whether Ball and Anthony Edwards can form the kind of backcourt that pushes Minnesota past the rest of the West.
On paper, they should stack up with the Lakers’ Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as one of the league’s highest-scoring backcourts. Ball also gives the Timberwolves a clear upgrade over aging Mike Conley and the other point guards they’ve leaned on in recent years.
Timing matters, too. By making the move now, Minnesota gets a full regular season to let Ball and Edwards build chemistry before the playoffs arrive.
Rudy Gobert is still the defensive anchor, with Jaden McDaniels beside him as a long, versatile stopper who has also become a much better 3-point shooter. Kuminga could fill out the front line, unless the staff decides to use Ayo Dosunmu at small forward. Dosunmu was productive after coming over from Chicago last season, and the front office rewarded him with a five-year deal in free agency.
There are still minutes to sort out, and training camp should settle some of that. Big man Joan Beringer and 2024 first-rounder Terrence Shannon Jr. are both expected to be in the mix for rotation roles.
So the question is simple: do Ball and Kuminga give Minnesota enough to finally break through in the Western Conference, or is this another step that still leaves them short?
In Other News...
Timberwolves Still Have One Frontcourt Question Before Camp Opens
The Timberwolves have spent the summer reshaping the edges of their roster, and one of the quieter developments is the growing belief that second-year big Joan Beringer can handle a real role behind Rudy Gobert. After the moves that brought in LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga and Cody Williams, Minnesotas frontcourt picture looks a little different, but the backup center spot remains one of the most practical questions left before camp opens.
There is still room for another move, and the Wolves may not be done looking at experienced size to round out the depth chart and the locker room. Veteran bigs such as Kelly Olynyk, Chuma Okeke and Bismack Biyombo have been mentioned as the kind of players who could make sense, which keeps the final decision in that frontcourt mix from feeling settled just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Still Have One Roster Question They Can't Ignore
With training camp still ahead, the Timberwolves are not exactly short on bodies, but they do have one standard roster spot sitting open under the second apron. After trading Josh Green, Minnesotas frontcourt picture is centered around Rudy Gobert, Joan Beringer and Trey Lyles, with Rocco Zikarsky on a two-way deal, which makes the last available slot feel less like a luxury than a practical decision about depth and insurance.
A veteran center on a minimum contract would fit the bill, and there are a few names that would make sense on paper as the Wolves sort through their options. Bismack Biyombo, Mason Plumlee, Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley and Kelly Olynyk are among the possibilities, while Kevin Love adds a different kind of intrigue as a potential reunion after beginning his NBA career in Minnesota more than 12 years ago. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Love Could Add One More Twist To Wolves Camp Plans
The Timberwolves head into camp with one roster spot still available, and the conversation around it has drifted toward a familiar name. Kevin Love, who once helped anchor Minnesota and most recently spent time with Utah, is reportedly a candidate for that final opening, giving the Wolves a chance to revisit a relationship that has long carried some built-in history.
What makes the idea linger is that the interest does not appear to be coming from one side alone. Love is said to be open to a return to Minnesota, and the Wolves have him in the mix as they weigh how to finish shaping the roster. No deal is in place yet, but a reunion would add another layer to a camp already set to include plenty of attention on how the team fills out its depth. [Read more 🡒]