Minnesota opens the regular season October 21 against the Heat, five days after trimming its roster to sixteen. The bigger test waiting underneath that opener is whether a reshaped backcourt can finally push this franchise past the conference finals.
The Wall Ahead
Minnesota has reached the Western Conference finals three years running and come up short each time: beaten by Dallas in 2024, Oklahoma City in 2025, and stopped a round earlier last season when San Antonio won their semifinal series 4-2. The Timberwolves finished 49-33, 13th in offense and 8th in defense, with a net rating of 3.1. Edwards led the way at 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game. The question for this season is whether anything changed enough this summer to clear a wall that has held for three straight springs.
A Backcourt Remade
On July 10, Minnesota traded for LaMelo Ball, who averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists last season, alongside guard Josh Green, dealing away Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Mouhamadou Gueye in a four-team deal. Donte DiVincenzo, who put up 12.2 points and 3.8 assists, is now out with a right Achilles injury not expected back until April 2027. Jaden McDaniels (14.8 points) and Rudy Gobert (10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds) remain the defensive spine. Five days before the opener, Minnesota waived Norchad Omier, Antonio Reeves, Drew Timme, KJ Martin and Enrique Freeman, trimming the bench to open a two-way slot.
The Bill Comes Due
None of it comes cheap. Payroll sits at $215.3 million, which puts the team above the first apron and past the $200.4 million tax threshold, with Edwards ($48.9 million), Ball ($40.8 million), Gobert ($36.5 million) and McDaniels ($26.2 million) the four largest salaries. Future flexibility is already spoken for: Minnesota's own first-round picks are swapped through 2028, and second-round picks are owed to Portland, Denver and Oklahoma City. Gobert turns 34 this season, still the anchor of a defense that ranked 8th last year. The answer, for now, leans toward yes: a healthier playmaking mix around Edwards gives Minnesota more margin for error than it had in last season's semifinal loss, even if the price for finding out is steep.
Did the Timberwolves make the playoffs last season?
Yes. Minnesota went 49-33 and reached the Western Conference semifinals, where San Antonio beat them 4-2.
Why did the Timberwolves waive five players in October 2026?
Minnesota cut Norchad Omier, Antonio Reeves, Drew Timme, KJ Martin and Enrique Freeman five days before the opener to trim the roster and open a two-way contract slot.
