The Timberwolves don’t have to treat this season like a one-shot deal.
That’s the real cushion built into their situation after all the changes they’ve made, including the addition of LaMelo Ball. A new-look group doesn’t always click at full speed in year one, and the examples are already out there: the Miami Heat’s trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh didn’t win the title until their second season together, and the New York Knicks’ starting five were also in their second year as a unit when they finally ended their long championship drought.
None of that is an excuse if Minnesota falls short in the 2026-27 season. But it does explain why the Timberwolves may still have room to grow if they don’t hit their peak right away. The encouraging part is that plenty of the core is already tied down for the long haul, giving the team more than one crack at getting where it wants to go.
That continuity got a boost on Monday when the Timberwolves announced Jaden McDaniels had agreed to a one-year extension worth $40 million. Keeping the 26-year-old ascending forward in the fold a little longer is obviously a win, even if the extension doesn’t start until the 2029-30 season because his current deal runs through 2028-29.
That same 2028-29 season is also the end date for Anthony Edwards’ and Ball’s contracts. Ayo Dosunmu’s new deal runs through 2029-30 and includes a player option for 2030-31.
Jaylen Clark is under contract for this season and the next two, and the Wolves need at least one or two players on affordable deals who can handle meaningful minutes. Clark isn’t locked into a major role, but if his offense takes a step, that three-year, $10 million contract could become a bargain.
There’s more to like on the younger end, too. Joan Beringer will have straightforward third- and fourth-year options coming up in the next two seasons, and he’s still not yet 20, which leaves room for more growth.
Not every important piece is set in stone beyond this season. Rudy Gobert and Jonathan Kuminga both have player options for next season, and Kuminga is almost certain to turn his down. The team also expects Donte DiVincenzo back at some point this season, though he becomes an unrestricted free agent when it ends.
Even so, the Wolves enter the year with far less contract anxiety than some other teams. The Knicks had plenty of offseason chatter around possible extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride. Minnesota doesn’t have that kind of noise hanging over it.
And that matters. The Timberwolves can still chase their ceiling this season, but if they miss it, they’ll likely get more chances with the same core still in place.
In Other News...
Jonathan Kuminga Faces An Early Wolves Test Fans Will Be Watching
Jonathan Kuminga is set to make his Minnesota Timberwolves debut against the Miami Heat, and the first thing fans will look for is how he handles a frontcourt that can punish any lapse in positioning. Minnesota has leaned on Kumingas recent rebounding improvement, and this matchup immediately puts that progress under a microscope against one of the leagues most physical interior presences.
For the Wolves, the challenge is bigger than just surviving a tough individual assignment. Kumingas ability to stay connected defensively and hold up on the glass could shape how well Minnesota manages the rest of the game around him, especially with Miami capable of turning a single matchup into a problem for the entire offense. If he can steady that end of the floor early, it would go a long way toward making his debut feel like more than just a first look. [Read more 🡒]
Shaq Just Put Minnesotas LaMelo Ball Situation Under A Real Spotlight
LaMelo Balls recent turn on Inside the NBA gave Minnesota fans a quick look at the mindset he is bringing into the season, and it was a fairly measured one. Ball said he does not load himself up with a specific set of expectations, choosing instead to focus on putting in his best effort, while also touching on life away from the court, including changing his sons diapers and the experience of sharing the floor with Anthony Edwards.
Shaquille ONeal was not interested in treating that approach as good enough for a team trying to move up in the West. He pushed back on Balls outlook and made clear he sees Minnesota as a place where the standard should be higher, which only adds more attention to the fit and the upside around Balls move. For the Timberwolves, the conversation is less about one media appearance than the larger question hanging over the season: whether this group is thinking big enough to match its talent. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Opening Night Rotation Leaves One Immediate Battle To Watch
The Timberwolves head into their regular season opener against the Heat with most of the familiar core in place, but the lineup puzzle is not fully solved yet. Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert are expected to carry the same kind of workloads they have in recent seasons, while new point guard Ball projects to settle into a heavy role right away at around 32 minutes a night.
The bigger question is what happens once the game gets into its closing stretch, because the starting group is not necessarily the same one that will be on the floor when it matters most. Ayo Dosunmu is slated to be the first man off the bench, and the second unit will likely be shaped by performance and matchups, leaving players such as Joan Beringer and Terrence Shannon Jr. in a constant battle for minutes as the season begins. [Read more 🡒]