MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minnesota Timberwolves came out of the NBA trade deadline with something front offices rarely manage to pull off at the same time: better championship odds and a dramatically lower luxury-tax bill.
After a flurry of deadline moves, the Timberwolves’ odds to win the 2026 NBA Finals jumped to +1200 at DraftKings, vaulting Minnesota into the fourth-best title odds in the league, acording to Sports Illustrated.
Only the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Cleveland Cavaliers now sit ahead of the Wolves, a notable shift for a team that entered the week further down the board.
The on-court optimism is tied largely to the acquisition of guard Ayo Dosunmu, who arrived from the Chicago Bulls as part of a multi-player deal.
Dosunmu, a 2021 second-round pick, is in the middle of a breakout 2025–26 season, averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc. His production adds depth and versatility to a Wolves roster already built to compete in the Western Conference.
Behind the scenes, the deadline also delivered major financial relief. A pre-deadline move involving veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. reduced Minnesota’s projected luxury-tax bill from roughly $24 million to about $3.8 million.
Conley was traded twice in quick succession, then released, and is now expected to return to the Timberwolves after clearing waivers, according to reporting from Shams Charania.
Minnesota managed to improve its championship outlook while still giving ownership meaningful tax savings.