Timberwolves Season Preview: No Big KAT, But Anthony Edwards And The Rest Still On Rise

October 9, 2024

Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

A look at the Timberwolves entering the 2024-25 season …

New Faces: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Joe Ingles, PJ Dozier
Key Losses: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kyle Anderson, Jordan McLaughlin, Monte Morris, Wendell Moore Jr., T.J. Warren

Overview

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team that’s always had potential but just can’t seem to put all the pieces together. Last season, they made a lot of noise with their defense, anchored by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, and it showed.

Statistically, their defense was the best in the league, holding teams to fewer points per 100 possessions than anyone else. But as great as that defense was, it wasn’t enough. The offense, particularly in their second-round loss to the Mavericks, couldn’t keep up. Anthony Edwards struggled, and his supporting cast didn’t provide enough help.

That’s where this blockbuster trade comes in. The Wolves moved Karl-Anthony Towns — who has been a cornerstone of this franchise for years — for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. On paper, it’s a huge gamble, but one that might just pay off.

For one, the Wolves are betting big on Naz Reid, who they believe can step up in KAT’s absence. Reid’s been solid and is going to cost the team much less than Towns, which allows Minnesota to avoid salary cap issues down the road. But the key to this trade isn’t just about saving money. It’s about fixing what went wrong offensively.

Julius Randle, despite his flaws, is a proven scorer and playmaker. He’s been better than Towns at creating shots for teammates, and he’s in elite company when it comes to generating open looks from the corners. He’s physical, he can handle the ball, and he’s more dynamic off the dribble than KAT ever was.

But there’s a catch: Randle isn’t nearly the shooter that Towns is, which could create issues with spacing, especially alongside Gobert, who is already limited offensively.

Donte DiVincenzo is the wild card. He’s coming off a career year shooting the three, and if he can keep that up, he’ll give the Wolves much-needed perimeter scoring. But relying on a player to replicate a career-best performance is always risky, especially in a system that’s still figuring things out.

For all this to work, the Wolves need a lot to break right. They need Edwards to continue developing into the superstar they know he can be. They need McDaniels to make a leap. They need Mike Conley to stay healthy and keep his shooting touch.

And most of all, they need Randle and Gobert to coexist in a way that KAT and Gobert never could.

The West is brutal, as Wolves president Tim Connelly put it. You’ve got to be both lucky and good to make noise. Right now, Minnesota is banking on this new look being the right mix of both. If everything clicks, they’re looking at a deep playoff run. If not, they could find themselves back in the middle of the pack, wondering if trading Towns was the right move after all.

But that’s the NBA for you. High risk, high reward. The Wolves have made their move, and now it’s time to see if they can make it pay off.