Minnesota opens the season carrying a payroll that outruns the cap by tens of millions and sits past the league's two lowest spending lines. Five contracts make up most of the bill, and the roster's own draft equity is swapped or spoken for into the next decade.
Over Every Line But One
The Timberwolves carry a $215.3 million payroll against a $165.0 million salary cap. That total clears the $200.4 million luxury tax threshold and the $209.0 million first apron. Only the $221.7 million second apron remains ahead of Minnesota, and the distance to it is not large. Every dollar above the cap this season is a dollar the roster's own core has already earned.
Five Deals, Most Of The Bill
Anthony Edwards ($48.9 million), LaMelo Ball ($40.8 million), Rudy Gobert ($36.5 million), Jaden McDaniels ($26.2 million) and Ayo Dosunmu ($19.3 million) are the five largest salaries on the roster. None of those numbers shrink next year. In 2027-28, Edwards is set to earn $52.3 million, Ball $43.6 million, Gobert $38.0 million, McDaniels $28.0 million and Dosunmu $20.9 million. Jonathan Kuminga holds a $6.4 million player option for that same season. Donte DiVincenzo ($12.5 million this year), Bones Hyland ($2.8 million) and Trey Lyles ($2.4 million) are the names currently absent from the 2027-28 sheet, the closest thing this roster has to money coming off the books.
Picks Already Spoken For
Minnesota's own first-round picks are tied into swaps in 2027 and 2028, then protected in both 2029 and 2030. The second-round picks are already committed: Portland in 2027, Denver in 2028, Charlotte conditionally in 2029, and Oklahoma City in 2030. There is no unencumbered first-round asset to attach to a trade before the decade turns, which leaves this payroll as the roster's main lever for whatever comes next.
Are the Timberwolves over the luxury tax this season?
Yes. Minnesota's $215.3 million payroll is above the $200.4 million luxury tax threshold and the $209.0 million first apron.
Who are the Timberwolves' highest-paid players?
Anthony Edwards ($48.9 million), LaMelo Ball ($40.8 million), Rudy Gobert ($36.5 million), Jaden McDaniels ($26.2 million) and Ayo Dosunmu ($19.3 million) are the five largest contracts on the roster.
