The Minnesota Timberwolves have already done the hard part before opening night: they’ve narrowed the room.
After finishing preseason Friday with a 133-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center, Minnesota moved on to the roster cutdown phase and waived five players on Saturday - guard Antonio Reeves and forwards Enrique Freeman, KJ Martin, Norchad Omier and Drew Timme.
The preseason result itself won’t count, and neither will the 3-3 record that came with it. What matters now is Wednesday night in South Beach, when the Timberwolves open the 2026-27 regular season against the Heat.
Before that, though, every NBA team has to get down to 18 players by the 4 p.m. CT deadline on Monday, with 15 on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.
Saturday was the key day for teams trying to avoid paying players on non-guaranteed contracts. Because waived players need 48 hours to clear before the season begins, the last chance to make those moves and dodge the bill came by 4 p.m. CT.
Minnesota’s five cuts included a few notable names. Reeves was one of the team’s most efficient shooters in the preseason, hitting 12 of 17 shots across four games. Martin was close behind, going 11 of 19 in five exhibitions.
That makes the decision on KJ Martin especially notable. He’s already logged 309 NBA games with four teams, and his best stretch came in 2022-23 with Houston, when he averaged 12.7 points and made 49 starts.
The Timberwolves also moved on from Freeman and Omier after they barely got into a rhythm. The two combined to shoot 4 of 20 in nine appearances. Freeman did have a strong year with the Iowa Wolves last season, averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 39 starts.
That G League production suggests Freeman could end up back in Iowa, but the team has not reported any plan for what comes next. The only public note was a simple message from the organization: “thank you, Enrique. 💙”
Timme’s preseason showing wasn’t enough either, despite his track record. He’s averaged 20.6 points over three G League seasons and also posted 12.1 points per game in a nine-game run with Brooklyn. In this preseason, he shot 9 of 15 while averaging 10.8 minutes per game, but that still wasn’t enough to crack the opening roster.
There were also a couple of young players who survived the purge despite colder shooting numbers. Isaiah Evans, the 2026 No. 33 overall pick, went 11 of 34 from the field, while Cody Williams, the 2024 No. 10 overall pick, went 12 of 34.
The cuts leave Minnesota with 16 players, already under Monday’s limit. Unless the front office has another move queued up, this looks like the group headed to Miami.
One player who did enough to lock in his place was Zyon Pullin. He finished second on the team in preseason scoring with 65 points, trailing only Anthony Edwards, and he shot 21 of 36 from the field.
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The Bulls get one more preseason look Friday night against the Timberwolves at the United Center, a final tune-up before the games start counting. Chicago is coming off a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but the bigger preseason themes have not changed much: turnovers still pop up, and the defense has not been as steady as the Bulls would like heading into the opener.
Minnesota is expected to rest several key players, which shifts the focus even more onto Chicago's own progress rather than the opponent in front of it. The Bulls are also hoping their frontcourt picture starts to clear soon, with some injured big men trending toward a return by the regular season opener, even as the roster still has at least one lingering absence up front. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves Just Created A Roster Opening Fans Will Watch Closely
The Timberwolves trimmed their roster to the regular-season limit by parting with five players, a move that clears the books and sets up a little more flexibility as the season gets underway. Enrique Freeman was among the cuts, along with Antonio Reeves, KJ Martin, Norchad Omier and Drew Timme, as Minnesota pared back after camp and worked toward its opening-night roster structure.
What makes the decision worth watching is the open slot it leaves behind, especially with the Wolves choosing not to rush into a replacement. Freemans departure opens the two-way spot for now, and the rest of the group is expected to be available as an organizational option if they clear waivers and head to the G League affiliate. In a season where roster edges matter, Minnesota has left itself room to keep adjusting. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Bench Problem Could Open The Door For Trey Lyles
Jonathan Kuminga has already locked down the starting power forward spot for the Timberwolves after a strong preseason, but the bigger question hanging over the roster is what happens behind him. Minnesotas bench picture is still cloudy, with Ayo Dosunmu and Joan Beringer the only reserves currently assured of regular minutes, leaving the rest of the second unit to sort itself out as the season approaches.
Trey Lyles looks like one of the names best positioned to benefit from that uncertainty. The veteran signed a minimum deal after spending last season in Europe with Real Madrid, and his steady play gives Minnesota a more trustworthy option than most of the other candidates fighting for minutes. His path back into a regular role is still being sorted out, but the Wolves have a clear need for reliability on the bench and Lyles has already made a case to be part of it. [Read more 🡒]