Just a few days removed from a Western Conference Finals exit in Oklahoma City, the Minnesota Timberwolves are bracing for an offseason of tough decisions.
None bigger than deciding whether to re-sign unrestricted free agent Nickeil Alexander-Walker, cousin of NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
As of Saturday, Bovada lists the Golden State Warriors as among the favorites to sign Alexander Walks with odds of +425, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers (+235) and Brooklyn Nets (+290).
While the Wolves would ideally like to keep their core intact, including Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, it appears that Alexander-Walker’s next destination could be San Francisco, especially given Minnesota’s tight salary‐cap situation.
With the Warriors suffering a "gentleman's sweep" at the hands of the Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA playoffs, a series in which Stephen Curry played just 13 minutes, adding a player like Alexander-Walker could be a savvy move to keep them in contention.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
A 2019 first‐round pick (17th overall) out of Virginia Tech, Alexander-Walker began his NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans before stops with Utah and finally Minnesota, where he emerged as a key two‐way reserve.
He has appeared in all 82 games each of the past two seasons in Minneapolis, averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 25.3 minutes per game in 2024-25, shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.1% from deep.
In the recent playoffs, Alexander-Walker flashed his potential, most notably with a 23‐point, 6‐assist outing in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder.
Securing Alexander-Walker would not only bolster wing depth for the Warriors but also bring a proven scorer off the bench, echoing the role he excelled in for Minnesota.
Yet, salary‐cap constraints complicate matters.
Alexander-Walker is expected to command a near-full mid‐level exception (approximately $14.2 million per season), but the Warriors lack open mid‐level funds, meaning they’ll likely have to clear significant salary to sign him.