Can Anthony Edwards help the Timberwolves take the next step and advance past the Western Conference Finals? (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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2024-25 Record: 49-33 (6th in West, lost in Conference Finals)
There was a time in late February when Minnesota sat just three wins above .500. The squad stared down 9th place in the West, and was on the outside looking in to the playoff picture. But a late resurgence made all the difference – erasing a once-bleak outlook with a 17-4 stretch – as the Timberwolves’ offense really started to click.
With the No. 6 seed secured and the Play-In Tournament avoided, Minnesota submitted the best year-to-year postseason performance in franchise history. The reigning Western Conference finalists upended the Lakers and Warriors in five games apiece.
Julius Randle upped his game in a big way to average 21.7 points on 50.2% shooting during that playoff run, while Anthony Edwards nabbed his third All-Star nod in a career-best campaign. But the Timberwolves proved to be the third victim of the Thunder’s title run, falling just shy of the Finals for the second straight year.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Bones Hyland, Joe Ingles, Julius Randle, Naz Reid
- Additions: Johnny Juzang
- Draft: Joan Beringer (17th pick)
- Departures: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (sign-and-trade), Luka Garza (free agent), Josh Minott (free agent)
- Unsigned Free Agents: N/A
Minnesota didn’t need to make noise this offseason to put itself in a winning position. By bringing back Naz Reid and Julius Randle, all six of its double-figure scorers from 2024-25 are now poised to return. Jaden McDaniels (12.2 ppg), Rudy Gobert (12.0 ppg) and Donte DiVincenzo (11.7 ppg) round out that group.
The team’s lone acquisition via the draft was Cedevita Olimpija’s Joan Beringer. The 6-foot-11 Frenchman could one day succeed Gobert, but until then, he should support him with young talent off the bench. The Timberwolves also went out and secured some shooting depth by signing Johnny Juzang, who shot 42.9% from the field last year and started a career-best 18 games.
It took time for the team to adjust to life without Karl-Anthony Towns, but back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances demonstrate coach Chris Finch and Co. have established their formula for success. Why fix what isn’t broken?
Anthony Edwards put his insane vertical leaping ability on display all season.
X-factor
Anthony Edwards. The 6-foot-4 guard is every bit an entertainer as he is a competitor, and that’s been the case ever since he entered the league. Last season, though, was particularly memorable. His 27.6 points per game ranked fourth-most in the Association, and his 39.5% clip from 3-point land was the finest of his six-year career.
The former No. 1 overall pick has never lacked confidence, and now with two All-NBA selections under his belt, Edwards is walking the walk. He’s just as capable of posterizing a premier defender as he is draining a 3 in the clutch. His scoring average has continuously increased from season to season, and MVP could be the next step.
> Watch Anthony Edwards on NBA League Pass
One key question
Can Jaden McDaniels excel as a two-way player? One of Finch’s biggest takeaways from the 2024-25 campaign was McDaniels’ impressive evolution into a difference-maker on both ends of the court. But he also said Minnesota would benefit from more playmaking by the sixth-year forward.
McDaniels, a Washington product, started all 82 regular-season games for the Timberwolves last season, putting up career-best averages of 1.3 steals and 5.7 rebounds per contest. And 10.2 field goal attempts per outing meant he was trusted with the rock more often than ever before. Connecting more frequently with Edwards from deep and Gobert in the paint could further facilitate an already-potent offense.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Timberwolves:
“The biggest boon for the future is the presence of Anthony Edwards, who led the team with 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He’s only 24 years old and will carry this team as far as he can take them.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 4 vs. Nuggets (9 ET, Broadcast TBD)
- Regular Season Opener: Oct. 22 at Trail Blazers (10 ET, League Pass)
- Home Opener: Oct. 26 vs. Pacers (7 ET, League Pass)
- Emirates NBA Cup West Group A Play: Nov. 7 vs. Jazz (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 14 vs. Kings (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 21 at Suns (9 ET, League Pass), Nov. 26 at Thunder (7:30 ET, ESPN)
- NBA Christmas Day: Dec. 25 at Nuggets (10:30 ET, ABC & ESPN)
- Rivals Week: Jan. 24 vs. Warriors (5:30 ET, ABC)
What they’re saying
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic: “Most importantly, Gobert has served as the backbone for this Timberwolves run, which has given Edwards, McDaniels and Reid invaluable glimpses into the playoff pressure cooker. They needed to feel that heat, to learn from it, fail in it and want to come back for more. They also needed to see that you can do it in Minnesota, something that many believed was impossible not that long ago.” (Read More)
