Minnesota Timberwolves

Front office and bench

Ownership

Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez

President of Basketball Operations

Tim Connelly since 2022

Assistants

• Pablo PrigioniAssistant coach
• Elston TurnerAssistant coach
• Kevin HansonAssistant coach
• Chris HinesAssistant coach
• Jeff NewtonAssistant coach
• Daniel BradyAssistant coach (joined in September 2026)

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

Minnesota changes its formula to keep aiming high in the West: it gave up Randle, Reid and a lot of draft capital for a true point guard, LaMelo Ball, so Anthony Edwards can go back to playing more off the ball. Connelly sees Edwards as a player with an all-time ceiling and expects a more fluid offense with Ball. The stated goal is a top-five finish in the West with Gobert and McDaniels as the defensive foundation.

Building around

Anthony Edwards LaMelo Ball Jaden McDaniels Rudy Gobert

What they have said

• He believes Edwards can end up among the all-time greats and that Ball, as an instinctive passer and shooter, will make things easier for him and make the offense more fluid.

  President of basketball operations Tim Connelly · Timberwolves Media Day (FOX 9 / Star Tribune) · September 2026

• He sees Edwards and Ball as highly compatible, both in personality and on the court.

  Head coach Chris Finch · TWolves Blog / Yahoo Sports · September 2026

What the data points to

• Deadline buyer Very likely

  • Projects to 48.5 wins: built to compete now.
  • Has 12.5 M in expiring contracts to match salaries.
• Clean up the books Likely

  • Spends 215.3 M and is over the first apron.
  • LaMelo Ball is paid more than he produces.
  • It is 14.9 M over the tax, and every extra million costs another one and a half or more in penalties.
  • Expiring contracts appeal to it: swapping long money for salary that runs out frees up room for the summer.

Moves

Summer 2026

• Four-team trade (July 10): LaMelo Ball arrives from Charlotte; Julius Randle (to Brooklyn), Naz Reid (to Charlotte), a 2033 first-round pick and first-round swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030 go out.
• Draft: they select Joshua Jefferson (No. 28), who goes to Brooklyn, and keep Isaiah Evans (No. 33) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 59).
• Ayo Dosunmu re-signs: five years, $112M.
• Jonathan Kuminga signs (two years, $12.4M).
• Josh Green, acquired with Ball, is traded to Utah for John Konchar and Cody Williams.
• Jaylen Clark and Bones Hyland re-sign; Trey Lyles signs.
• Departures: Mike Conley (Boston), Kyle Anderson (Toronto), Joe Ingles (Australia) and Julian Phillips (Houston).
• Lead assistant Micah Nori leaves to become Portland's head coach.

Latest

• Oct 17 Waived Waived Fs Enrique Freeman, KJ Martin, Norchad Omier, Drew Timme and G Antonio Reeves.
• Oct 17 Waived Waived G Antonio Reeves and Fs Enrique Freeman, KJ Martin, Norchad Omier and Drew Timme.
• Sep 24 Waived Waived Fs Payton Sandfort and Nate Santos.
• Sep 22 Waived Waived G Jalen Crutcher.
• Sep 19 Waived Waived G Stephen Thompson.
• Sep 18 Waived Waived G Jules Bernard.

The roster

14 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 15th
• Rim protection 14th
• Three-point shooting 6th
• Playmaking 17th
• Scoring 13th
• Rebounding 24th
• Offensive impact 17th

Roster holes

• Weak in reboundingWith today’s rotation it ranks 24th in the league in rebounding.
• Only 1 center in the rotationOne injury leaves it without a backup in the paint.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Donte DiVincenzo 29 years old · paid 12.5 M Salary coming off the books
• Bones Hyland 25 years old · paid 2.8 M Salary coming off the books

With an option next summer

• Rudy Gobert36.5 M · can leave early

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

None.

Money and picks

Payroll 215.3 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

215.3 M · over the first apron

Distance to each line

tax: 14.9 M over · 1st apron: 6.3 M over · 2nd apron: 6.4 M below

Next summer

214.1 M committed · no cap space

First-rounders it can trade

None · 8 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Players who fit and that it can afford

• Tre Jones CHI8.0 M · signed through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• Royce O'Neale CHA10.9 M · signed through 2027-28, produces above his salary
• Jordan Goodwin PHX5.9 M · signed through 2028-29, produces above his salary

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Rudy Gobert (worth 13.9 M more than his salary), John Konchar (worth 5.5 M more than his salary), Bones Hyland (worth 9.4 M more than his salary), Donte DiVincenzo (worth 11.1 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

LaMelo Ball (overpaid by 9.8 M)

To match salaries

Donte DiVincenzo (12.5 M)