The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the 2026-27 season in a familiar position and an unfamiliar one.
After reaching back-to-back Western Conference Finals before last season’s second-round exit, the Timberwolves have reshaped their roster around Anthony Edwards while betting heavily on a faster, more dynamic style. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks believes the changes could pay off, even if the transition comes with uncertainty.
“I would probably lean toward the over,” Marks said of Minnesota’s projected win total of 48.5 victories. “I don’t think the West is as good as it’s been in prior years.”
Our Darren ‘Doogie’ Wolfson spoke Tuesday with Marks, the former Brooklyn Nets executive, via Zoom.
**_\*\*\*Click the video box above to watch our chat with Marks\*\*\*_**
Marks sees the Timberwolves firmly in the conference’s second tier behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio, grouped with teams such as Houston, Denver and the Lakers. The result, he believes, is an opportunity for Minnesota to stack wins during the regular season.
Still, the roster overhaul leaves plenty of unanswered questions.
No move will be scrutinized more than the blockbuster acquisition of LaMelo Ball.
Marks supported the trade when it happened and remains bullish on the upside, but acknowledges Ball’s arrival creates a fascinating experiment.
The former All-Star gives Minnesota another elite playmaker alongside Edwards, potentially unlocking an offense that has often struggled with turnovers and half-court creation. But Ball also enters unfamiliar territory.
“We’ll talk about in March and April, can LaMelo play in the postseason?” Marks said. “He never did in Charlotte.”
While Ball’s talent isn’t in question, Marks noted that postseason basketball presents a different challenge, making Minnesota one of the league’s most intriguing teams to evaluate.
The departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid have fundamentally altered Minnesota’s makeup.
The Timberwolves figure to be smaller, quicker and more athletic, particularly with the additions of Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. Marks believes that could allow Chris Finch’s team to thrive in transition, especially if Jaden McDaniels takes another offensive leap.
“I think there is another gear with him offensively,” Marks said of McDaniels.
The 26-year-old forward recently signed a one-year, $40 million extension that keeps him under contract through the 2029-30 season. Marks called the deal a smart piece of business for Minnesota, especially considering the salary cap’s continued growth.
McDaniels flashed an expanded offensive game during last year’s playoff run, particularly against Denver, and now has an opportunity to absorb a larger share of the scoring load.
With Randle and Reid gone, there are significantly more shot attempts available.
“I would expect his scoring, his points per game, to certainly increase,” Marks said.
For all the excitement surrounding Minnesota’s revamped attack, Marks repeatedly returned to the same concern: rebounding.
The Timberwolves lost size and frontcourt depth during the offseason, leaving four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert as the lone proven interior presence.
“You can’t just be relying on Rudy down there,” Marks said.
Minnesota’s ability to limit turnovers and avoid surrendering second-chance opportunities may ultimately determine whether the team can contend with the conference’s elite.
“If you can limit turnovers, if you can limit second-chance points, the little things, I think you’re going to win a bunch of games,” Marks said.
The concern is magnified because Minnesota’s preferred style relies on generating transition opportunities. Without securing defensive rebounds, those fast-break chances become harder to find.
The biggest reason for optimism remains Edwards.
Marks believes the All-NBA guard should firmly be in the MVP conversation if the Timberwolves finish near the top of the Western Conference standings.
“If Minnesota is hovering with those top teams and they’re in that three-hole and he’s averaging near the top of the league in scoring, I think you have to put him in that mix,” Marks said.
Edwards also has a significant financial incentive. By making another All-NBA team, he could position himself for a supermax contract extension next offseason worth more than $300 million.
But individual accolades are secondary to the larger goal.
As Marks noted, fair or not, Minnesota’s season ultimately won’t be judged by regular-season success.
### Playoff Expectations Remain
Marks believes the Timberwolves should be one of the Western Conference’s better teams. The challenge is proving the new-look roster can raise the franchise’s ceiling rather than simply maintain its place among contenders.
“I think where Minnesota will get judged is probably the postseason,” Marks said.
That’s the standard now.
Winning 50-plus games may no longer be enough. Neither is merely making the playoffs.
The Timberwolves have already proven they can reach the conference finals. The question facing Edwards, Ball, Gobert and the rest of the roster is whether this retooled version can finally take the next step.
And that’s what makes the Wolves one of the most fascinating teams in the NBA entering the season.