Tim Connelly and the Timberwolves aim to retain their core after a second straight Western Conference Finals. Key contract decisions for Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker loom, with Connelly cautiously optimistic and committed to long-term success in Minnesota.
After reaching the Western Conference Finals for a second consecutive year, the Minnesota Timberwolves are positioned to retain their core roster — but as history shows, nothing is guaranteed in today’s unpredictable NBA.
Free throws this season
Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA
Last offseason, Minnesota also leaned toward continuity, only to swing a major trade before training camp. Team president Tim Connelly acknowledged the team’s stability, but left the door open for potential changes if the right opportunity arises.
“We feel very happy with the core we have. We don’t feel like there’s tremendous pressure to do much,” Connelly said. “But until you’re raising the trophy, you’ve got to be as active and as creative as possible.”
Still, he emphasized the balance between patience and risk-taking:
“Those organizations that can show patience tend to have a really high level of success. But patience shouldn’t lead to risk aversion.”
Key contract decisions loom
The team’s focus now turns to Julius Randle and Naz Reid, both of whom must decide whether to exercise their 2025–26 player options or hit free agency.
Randle, acquired from the Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, has a $30M option and thrived early in the playoffs, despite struggling in the conference finals.
Reid, 25, holds a $15M option and is expected to seek a longer-term deal, though the Wolves plan to aggressively try to retain him.
“We’re pretty optimistic,” Connelly said. “Those guys are really, really good players who play really, really well together.”
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, another playoff contributor, will enter unrestricted free agency. With Minnesota already brushing against the NBA’s second apron — a punitive luxury tax threshold — retaining all three without financial strain may be unlikely.
“The goal is to keep everybody. The players love it here — the coaches, the teammates, the community,” Connelly said. “We’re cautiously optimistic we’re in a good place with all of them.”
Youth movement & Draft picks
Minnesota also hopes to expand the roles of young players like Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Jaylen Clark, who missed his rookie year recovering from an Achilles injury. With the 17th and 31st picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, the team may lean more on internal development if cap constraints tighten.
One figure not going anywhere? Tim Connelly himself. He extended his contract option amid the complicated ownership transition from Glen Taylor to the group led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez — a sale that now awaits final NBA approval.
“Super happy here,” Connelly said. “You guys are stuck with me.”
Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.