Minnesota is 1-0 with a $215.3M payroll that sits above the $209.0M first apron and below the $221.7M second apron. The room between those two lines is where this front office has to work all season.
Five Deals, One Ceiling
Five contracts carry the payroll. Edwards is at $48.9M, Ball at $40.8M, Gobert at $36.5M, McDaniels at $26.2M and Dosunmu at $19.3M. All five go up next season, to $52.3M, $43.6M, $38.0M, $28.0M and $20.9M. Hoops Rumors reported on October 20 that McDaniels and the Wolves agreed to extend his deal by one year, which keeps the wing defense in place a little longer. Gobert is 34 and still the center of what Minnesota does on defense, and his money keeps growing. None of this is a bad contract on its own. Put together, it leaves the Wolves with almost nothing to spend on anyone else.
What Comes Off
The biggest number missing from the 2027-28 sheet is Donte DiVincenzo's $12.5M. He is out with an Achilles injury and is not expected back until April 2, 2027, so the Wolves are paying for a guard they won't have for most of the season. Bones Hyland at $2.8M and Trey Lyles at $2.4M also drop off next summer. Jonathan Kuminga holds a $6.4M player option for 2027-28, so that decision is his. Terrence Shannon Jr. goes from $2.8M to $5.1M. That is small, steady relief, and it does not reset anything.
Picks as Currency
The draft cupboard is thin. The 2027 and 2028 firsts are swaps, and the 2029 and 2030 firsts are protected. The seconds are owed to Portland, Denver and Oklahoma City, plus one conditional to Charlotte. RealGM reported that Dalton Knecht is drawing interest from the Knicks and the Wolves. Any move like that has to fit under the $221.7M second apron, with few clean picks to attach. Hoops Rumors reported on October 17 that the Wolves waived five players and opened a two-way slot. With this little room, small moves like that are most of what's possible. The most valuable asset Minnesota can count on this season is a healthy core.
Are the Timberwolves over the luxury tax in 2026-27?
Yes. Their $215.3M payroll is over the $200.4M tax line and the $209.0M first apron, but still under the $221.7M second apron.
Which Timberwolves contracts expire after this season?
Donte DiVincenzo's $12.5M, Bones Hyland's $2.8M and Trey Lyles's $2.4M are not on the 2027-28 books. Jonathan Kuminga has a $6.4M player option for that season.
