The Minnesota Timberwolves took a big swing this offseason, and 11 games into the season, it’s looking like the kind of gamble that can change a team’s ceiling.
The move that set everything in motion was a major reshaping of the roster: Julius Randle and Naz Reid went out in the deal for LaMelo Ball, and Jonathan Kuminga was brought in to handle the power forward spot that opened up. It was a polarizing reset, especially with Minnesota parting with an unprotected first-round pick and three pick swaps in the Ball trade. But so far, the early returns have been hard to argue with.
The Wolves are 8-3, and they’ve gone 5-2 without Anthony Edwards. Ball has given the offense a new gear with his passing and 3-point shooting, while Kuminga has settled into a role that fits cleanly on both ends of the floor.
Ball has been the biggest jolt. His playmaking has opened things up for everyone around him, and it isn’t just about the assists.
Defenses have to account for him, and that pressure creates easier looks all over the floor. Minnesota’s offense looked unstoppable in the four games with Edwards, and even with Ball dealing with injury, the team has stayed afloat.
His shooting matters just as much. Ball’s ability to stretch the floor gives Minnesota a different kind of offensive shape, one that works whether he’s carrying the load or sharing it.
He can operate as a top option or as a co-star, and he’s comfortable both with and without the ball. That combination has helped push the Timberwolves to seventh in offensive rating per Cleaning the Glass, tied for the best mark of the Edwards era.
That matters because Minnesota’s offense has often bogged down in the playoffs when Edwards wasn’t the one creating. Ball changes that equation.
He gives Edwards some breathing room as both a scorer and a playmaker. The one concern mentioned is Ball’s lack of physicality, but beyond that, the fit has been excellent.
Kuminga has been just as important in a different way. There were real questions about whether he would embrace a complementary offensive role and what kind of defense he’d bring.
Those doubts have faded quickly. He has been a strong forward stopper, and according to NBA.com, opponents are shooting 38.3 percent from the field when he’s the primary defender.
He’s also helping on the boards, averaging 5.5 rebounds.
On offense, Kuminga has done exactly what Minnesota needed. He’s hit 40.8 percent of his 3-pointers, and he hasn’t forced bad shots or thrown the offense out of rhythm. His movement without the ball and his passing have both stood out, making him look like a clean fit rather than a problem to manage.
That’s the bigger story here. Tim Connelly has never been shy about making aggressive moves, and this offseason was another example of that approach.
Some risks have worked better than others, but the Timberwolves have clearly upgraded their balance and versatility. The roster they had before was good, but it still had obvious playmaking and secondary-creation issues.
Now, Minnesota looks more complete, and more dangerous, than it has at any point in the Edwards era.
The real verdict will come in the playoffs, where these moves were always going to be judged. But right now, the Timberwolves’ bold offseason is already paying off in a big way.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Defense Is Forcing A Bigger Conversation About Their Ceiling
The early shape of Minnesotas season has been defined by a defense that has given opponents very little room to breathe. Even with Anthony Edwards missing several games, the Timberwolves have built an 8-3 start on the back of a unit that has consistently bothered ballhandlers, closed off clean looks from deep and made every possession feel like a grind.
What makes it more interesting is that this is no longer just about surviving while the offense finds its footing. The Wolves have been good enough on that end to force a bigger conversation about how high their ceiling can go if the defensive standard holds, especially once the roster is whole and the attack catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Ayo Dosunmu Explained Whats Fueling His Timberwolves Surge
Ayo Dosunmu has settled into a much bigger role since Anthony Edwards went down with a knee injury, and the early returns have been hard to miss. The guard has brought a sharper scoring punch to the starting lineup, while also giving Minnesota a steadier decision-making presence. Over the last stretch, his shot-making has been efficient enough to stand out even in a rotation that has had to adjust on the fly.
Chris Finch and Dosunmu both pointed to the same broader theme behind the uptick: the way the offense is opening up around him. With Rudy Gobert setting strong screens and helping create cleaner looks at the rim, Dosunmu has found more room to operate and more chances to attack in rhythm. For a Timberwolves team trying to keep its footing through an injury-driven shuffle, that kind of fit matters, even if the full picture of how long it lasts is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Make A Frontcourt Move With Anthony Edwards Still Out
With Anthony Edwards still sidelined by a knee injury, the Timberwolves have added some frontcourt depth as they try to keep their strong start rolling. Minnesota brought in Johni Broome on a two-way deal, a move that gives the club another developmental big while it waits for one of its top scorers to return.
Broome arrives with some recent NBA experience after spending time with the 76ers and Clippers, and he was the 35th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. For a Wolves team trying to hold steady through Edwards absence, the addition is a low-risk way to shore up the roster and see whether Broome can carve out a role while the lineup is in flux. [Read more 🡒]