The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to approach a very important offseason before them.
After moving on to the final of the serial conference and being wiped out this year by league MVPs Shay Gilgauss Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves have returned to the drawings.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will not only take much needed leap and improvements, but also face the urgency to maintain an elite and talented core.
The trio of Julius Randle, Naz Reed and Nickaire Alexander Walker are positioned to become free agents, and Minnesota should want to protect everyone from a long-term perspective.
Julius Randle will make the Minnesota Timberwolves re-sign this summer a number one priority.
The star forward has a $30 million player option next season and is highly anticipated to opt out to pursue a bigger, longer contract.
After questioning the massive trade arrivals, Randle bouncing off and driving Minnesota’s season, where he finished as a sixth seed.
Randle had previously expressed openness to stay in Minnesota. He doesn’t know what the future holds, but he pointed out that he can’t seek a more thrilling experience in his first season as a Timberwolf.
“I say I love it here. This is the most meaningful basketball I’ve played in my career,” Randle said in a season exit interview. “I love it because I’m playing with (Anthony Edwards) as our leader, just from how the organization made me feel.
“There’s a lot to be excited about. I wasn’t really thinking about it, but having the ability to compete for a championship is all I want at this point in my career.
Emerging from being an undrafted prospect in 2019, Naz Reid is now set to be the perfect opportunity to grab his first major career break.
Reed signed a three-year, $42 million contract extension with the T-Wolve in 2023. He has a $15 million player option from 2025-26.
“I think it was in it,” Reed said. “Obviously, I’ve come a long way just being 25, but certainly. I think that’s what makes me look like the future.”
There is great skepticism about the chance to fall to Bill Simmons to leave him and keep the wolf’s lead. 2023-24 Man of the Year earned a career-highest average with points (14.2), rebounds (6.0), assists (2.3) and minutes (27.3).
Given his productivity, there may be a potential starting gig from another team on the lead’s table.
“I’m not completely filtering that out. Certainly, it’s a big deal to think about it around it,” Reid said of the start.
“If you want to be in a victory position, sometimes you may have to sacrifice. So I definitely consider myself a starter, but things happen. Things change.
The Timberwolves shockedly parted ways with longtime franchise star Karl Anthony Towns last year, becoming flexible enough to re-sign Reid and Nikkill Alexander Walker in the 2025 offseason.
Alexander Walker, who averaged a career-high 9.4 points and played Minnesota’s second straight 82 games, will become an unlimited free agent in a $4.3 million deal.
“It’s the elephant in the room,” he said of his looming free agency situation. “I didn’t give it at all. I’m still trying to handle it this year. At least I have the chance to be a full-time dad for a week when things get crazy and you have to go back to this world.”
Alexander Walker was impressed by many during his battle with cousin Gilgaus Alexander in the conference final.
It is already expected that the 26-year-old will grow into a solid and reliable wingman and will attract many markets. Anyway, returning to Minnesota stands as one of his top possibilities.
“I will never burn the bridge, so I would have this opportunity, and I love Minnesota, what the fans meant to me, what the team meant to me,” said Alexander Walker.
“This is the only place I had a real opportunity to play and be the best version of myself.
“There’s no way I’ll go to offseason and X-Out Minnesota. That’s going to be crazy.”