After losing in the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves are facing a crucial offseason. Key players: Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are all free agents. It's widely believed that the Wolves won't be able to re-sign all three, with Reid and/or NAW likely being the odd one out. Head coach Chris Finch has undoubtedly built an incredible culture in Minnesota, but will he be able to convince all three players to re-sign?
The Timberwolves' free agency situation
The Wolves have one of the highest payrolls in the league. Much of their limited money will have to be dedicated to re-signing Randle or trading for his replacement in Kevin Durant. While Randle has some flaws, they need to re-sign him for his shot-creation abilities if they can't find a star-level replacement.
Reid has a $15 million player option that he will likely decline to test the open market. Some team could give him a massive contract and price the Timberwolves out. Reid's shot creation, floor spacing, and playmaking are vital to the Wolves' success. Additionally, he is beloved by the Wolves fan base. In the scenario of Reid getting a big payday on the open market, it likely wouldn't come from a contending team. Can Finch and Tim Connelly convince Reid to value winning over money? The best-case scenario would be that Reid opts into his player option and agrees to a long-term extension with the Wolves, but that seems unlikely.
Alexander-Walker is an unrestricted free agent and will surely look for an upgrade from his previous salary of $4.3 million. Given the Timberwolves' financial situation, they'll likely be priced out of him. NAW's versatile defense, spot-up shooting, and secondary playmaking have made him highly valuable to the Wolves' success. His impact was on full display in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 12 points on 41 percent shooting from beyond the arc. This increases the likelihood of a team giving him a massive deal. Similar to Reid Finch and Connelly, will have to convince NAW that winning and culture are more valuable than money. However, it's unclear how much money Alexander-Walker will be willing to sacrifice. Ultimately, it feels like the Wolves will have to choose between NAW and Reid with losing both players being a nightmare scenario.
It would be shocking if all 3 players re-signed
Cap expert Bobby Marks discussed the difficulties of re-signing all three players. Many others have also pointed out this challenge. All indications are that the Wolves won't be able to afford re-signing Randle, Reid, and NAW.
If Finch and Co. can somehow convince all of these players to re-sign, it would be a remarkable accomplishment. This would highlight the Wolves' incredible culture. However, in the more likely scenario where NAW and/or Reid walk, the Wolves will be counting on younger players to step up. Terrence Shannon Jr. is a clear candidate for a bigger role, especially if Alexander-Walker leaves. The No. 17 pick and Rob Dillingham are also players the Timberwolves will need to contribute.