After consecutive Western Conference finals appearances, the Minnesota Timberwolves were ousted in the second round by the San Antonio Spurs.
The loss is one thing, but during this postseason they lost Donte DiVincenzo to an Achilles tear, so they’ll presumably be without their most dynamic shooter for most, if not all, of next season.
It was a strange year for the Wolves, as they sailed in inconsistent waters throughout most of the season. They never quite found their footing, nor did they completely drown.
Rudy Gobert, in particular, had drastic ups and downs, highlighted by a ridiculously effective defensive series against Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. But during long stretches of the regular season, the 33-year-old Frenchman struggled to apply himself as he once could.
The Wolves now enter an offseason in which they have to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu, their prized trade-deadline acquisition from Chicago, as well as identify ways to get better and optimize the pending prime of Anthony Edwards.
2025-26 finish
Record: 49-33, sixth in the Western Conference. Lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round in six games.
Highlight of the season
Unquestionably the acquisition of Dosunmu, who immediately became the organization’s second-best guard, and should — pending a new contract — slide right into the starting point guard position alongside Edwards for years to come.
Players signed for next season
Anthony Edwards
Rudy Gobert
Julius Randle
Jaden McDaniels
Naz Reid
Donte DiVincenzo
Joan Beringer
Terrence Shannon Jr.
Key free agents
Ayo Dosunmu (UFA)
Bones Hyland (UFA)
Projected salary
$187,981,660
Draft picks
Nos. 28 & 59
Draft focus: The Wolves need more offense, especially off the bench with DiVincenzo out. Given that they still don’t have clarity on the Dosunmu situation, identifying guards wouldn’t be the worst idea, as long as they can justify it.
The Wolves are expensive, and they’ll get even more expensive if they manage to re-sign Dosunmu, who will command a hefty salary. Could they make alterations to the roster, and possibly squeeze Dosunmu into a number that allows them to have the tax MLE at their disposal? It’s not impossible, and that could be one way to play this.
Needs and goals
This franchise is clearly trying to win, so every single action has to be streamlined toward just that. Winning. Competing. Optimization. It sounds easy, but the Wolves are fairly handcuffed, so they have to win — and win big — in the margins.
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