The Timberwolves have already made their big swing, and now the pressure shifts to what comes next. With LaMelo Ball in Minnesota, the front office can’t just sit back and assume the roster will sort itself out. If the right deal shows up before the deadline, the Wolves need to be ready to act.
There’s a real chance this group clicks as constructed. Anthony Edwards and Ball might be enough to keep Minnesota in the championship mix. Even so, the roster still has a few clear spots that could use reinforcement, and the deadline gives the Wolves a chance to sharpen the edges if needed.
One obvious area is frontcourt depth, and Isaiah Stewart fits that lane. He’d give Minnesota another defensive big off the bench, someone who can spell Rudy Gobert and, if Joan Beringer doesn’t fully meet expectations, handle minutes at center. Stewart could also slide to the four in some lineups.
Day’Ron Sharpe is another center option worth watching. Minnesota appears to trust Beringer heading into next season, but playoff minutes are a different animal. If Beringer isn’t ready for that kind of load, Sharpe could bring inexpensive depth at a spot where the Wolves would clearly like to stay stocked with bodies around Ball.
Jalen Smith would fill a different need. Minnesota doesn’t really have a pick-and-pop big for Ball to work with, and Smith could help change that. He can play both the four and the five, which gives the Wolves some lineup flexibility and adds another useful layer to the rotation.
If Minnesota wants to go bigger on defense, Herb Jones would be a dream fit. The Pelicans would have to be open to discussing him, but if they were, the Wolves should absolutely make the call. Pairing Jones with Jaden McDaniels on the wing would give Minnesota a nasty defensive look at the forward spots.
Then there’s AJ Green, who would address the other side of Ball’s game: spacing. The Wolves already have some shooting, but Green would raise the level of their perimeter firepower. He’s been a strong three-point shooter for the Milwaukee Bucks over the past few years, and he’d fit cleanly as a catch-and-shoot option next to Ball.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Get A Late December Chance To Reassert Control Over Denver
The Timberwolves will not have to wait long for a measuring stick against Denver, with the first two meetings of the season set for Dec. 28 and Dec. 31. Minnesota has gone into the offseason with a very different look after adding LaMelo Ball, while the Nuggets have been far quieter in terms of roster turnover, which only sharpens the sense that these games could tell us plenty about where both teams stand in the Western Conference race.
For Minnesota, the larger backdrop is obvious: recent playoff history has made every matchup with Denver feel loaded, and the Wolves have reasons to believe this group can make those games more competitive. The scheduling gives them an early shot to show whether the roster changes actually tilt the matchup in their favor, and whether the late-December swing can become the first step toward reclaiming some control over a familiar rival. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Get An Early Chance To Fix A Costly Problem
The Timberwolves are staring at a demanding opening stretch, with four games against playoff teams from last season helping set the tone right away. It is the kind of early schedule that can expose flaws quickly, but it also gives Minnesota a chance to establish itself against quality opponents before the season settles in. For a team trying to climb in the Western Conference and stay on a championship track, those first few weeks already carry real weight.
What makes the calendar even more interesting is the eight-game homestand that begins Nov. 8 and runs through Nov. 23, the longest in franchise history. After navigating those early roadblocks, the Wolves will get an extended run in front of their own crowd, and that stretch could go a long way toward smoothing over any rough start. If Minnesota can make the most of that window, it would put the team in a much better position to attack the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Fans Just Got A Schedule Packed With Spotlight Moments
The Timberwolves 2026-27 schedule brings a little bit of everything for fans who like their team in the national spotlight. Minnesota opens the season on the road against the Miami Heat, then gets one of the marquee dates on the NBA calendar with its first-ever Christmas Day home game, a visit from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The league also clearly expects plenty of interest, with the Wolves set for 27 nationally televised games and a franchise-record eight-game homestand on the calendar.
There is still another date worth circling as the season picture comes into focus. Minnesota is also set to learn more about Kevin Garnetts jersey retirement celebration on Aug. 14, adding another layer to a year already loaded with attention. Between the NBA Cup group stage and quarterfinals, the Christmas showcase and the national TV slate, this is shaping up as one of the most visible Timberwolves seasons in franchise history, even before the opener arrives. [Read more 🡒]