The Minnesota Timberwolves returned home from their four-game road trip to face the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, a rematch of their first contest of the new year, where the Timberwolves walked away as winners. Continuing their trend of winning in the new year, the Timberwolves made it three-straight wins to start 2026 as they handed the Heat an even bigger loss.

A 28-point margin of victory, Anthony Edwards led the way with 26 points, but the team didn't need him as much, given they had the game under control entering the fourth quarter. 14 Timberwolves players saw action against the Heat, as Minnesota is starting to look like their past selves as of late. So much so, their star center made a very bold statement

After the game in a postgame interview, Rudy Gobert was straight to the point with what heights this team can reach.

"A championship team," Gobert said, met by cheers from the crowd at the Target Center in Minnesota.

The Timberwolves have never made it past the Western Conference Finals, with the closest they've got being a six-game series against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, with Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell leading the way for Minnesota.

However, does this team have the pieces to do it now?

The Timberwolves are now well within reach of jumping up to the second seed in the Western Conference if they can keep their winning ways up over their next stretch of games. At the same time, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who looked unstoppable to begin the year, are now just 5-5 in their past 10 games and don't look unbeatable in a playoff series.

Minnesota knows what it has in Edwards, an elite scorer who can give them 30 points on any night, but the supporting cast will be the difference. Even though their defense will help them win games with Gobert and Jaden McDaniels shining in the starting lineup, they need consistency offensively from Julius Randle and other players.

Additionally, this roster still needs some help, and as good as Bones Hyland has looked at points this season, adding another ball-handler to the mix might be the best decision. It might be hard for the Timberwolves to part ways with Rob Dillingham, given the capital they spent on him, but the team doesn't seem to be in a place to give him the minutes he needs to develop.

The Timberwolves don't have any first-round picks to throw around in deals, but Dillingham, plus another player with some second-round picks, could land Minnesota a player or two in return that could make an immediate impact on this rotation.

If they can find the right pieces, they are absolutely a championship contender.