After a busy stretch of trades and signings, Minnesota still has work to do before next season tips off.
The Minnesota Timberwolves knocked off the Denver Nuggets in six games during the first round before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the conference semifinals, which made it clear the roster needed changes if the team wanted to take the next step.
A Completely Reshaped Roster
Tim Connelly and the front office wasted no time getting to work this offseason. Minnesota traded Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal, clearing roughly $36 million in salary.
Days later, the Wolves sent fan favorite Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for LaMelo Ball and Josh Green, giving Anthony Edwards a true running mate in the backcourt.
Edwards averaged a career-best 28.8 points per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field across 61 games, and the front office is building around him going forward.
Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists in 72 games for Charlotte last season, and the hope is that his playmaking will open things up for the rest of the offense.
Beyond the trades, Minnesota re-signed Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million deal, locked up Jaylen Clark on a three-year, $10 million contract and selected Duke wing Isaiah Evans with the No. 33 pick in the draft.
Power Forward Is the Clear Priority
All of those moves have left the Timberwolves with one obvious hole.
After moving both Randle and Reid, Rudy Gobert is the only proven big man left on the roster, and while Jaden McDaniels will likely slide to the four, he is a natural wing who would benefit from not guarding bigger power forwards every night.
Minnesota needs more size and shooting from the frontcourt if it wants to compete at the top of the West.
The issue is that money is tight, with the Wolves looking at just the taxpayer mid-level exception worth about $6.1 million a year, which limits the level of player they can bring in.
John Collins has been linked to the team, but his asking price will almost certainly land above what Minnesota can offer, especially with teams like the Spurs and 76ers able to pay more.
More realistic options include Kenrich Williams, whose shooting and championship experience with the Oklahoma City Thunder make him a solid fit, along with veterans like Harrison Barnes and Tobias Harris.
Re-signing Kyle Anderson on a minimum deal would also make sense for depth.
If none of those options come together, Connelly could try to move Josh Green's $14.7 million expiring contract to open up more room, though the Wolves are low on draft picks to attach.
The backcourt is set with Ball and Edwards, but until Minnesota fills out its frontcourt, this roster still has a gap to fill.
