All Things 2025-2026 Minnesota Timberwolves Offseason Thread

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kg21 said:
Remember, the wolves have moved up in the lottery one time in their entire existence.

The Spurs have done it the past 3 seasons. LOL
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Yep. Salt in the wound.
 

kg21 said:
He got Gobert and Jaden to play defense.

He must not know how to do the same with Ant.

It's so weird.
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As the data shows, of the top 20 players in the league only three are statistically fully two way players: Wemby, Chet and SGA. All three are surrounded by far better players than Ant, especially on offense.

Stop whining that Finch doesn't get Ant to be everywhere all the time all at once. He carries far more of the load on offense than the other three guys.
 

Latest mock from The Athletic

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)​

Ebuka Okorie | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Stanford​

This is another player with a wide range, as I’ve heard anywhere from right after the lottery to late first round. I don’t think Okorie will fall out of the first round, though, and this would be a home-run match for him.



The Timberwolves are thought to be exploring potential point guard options in the late first round, and Okorie’s ability to get to the rim would be a different skill set than the one they chose with Rob Dillingham a couple of years ago in the lottery. It’s hard for me to see Okorie falling past this point.

OVERALL19 GUARD8
Ebuka OkorieStanford
An elite rim-pressure guard who lives in the paint; must work on passing and defense.
Read full profile ›
Photo of Ebuka Okorie Stanford
 


Gopher_In_NYC said:
Latest mock from The Athletic

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)​

Ebuka Okorie | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Stanford​

This is another player with a wide range, as I’ve heard anywhere from right after the lottery to late first round. I don’t think Okorie will fall out of the first round, though, and this would be a home-run match for him.



The Timberwolves are thought to be exploring potential point guard options in the late first round, and Okorie’s ability to get to the rim would be a different skill set than the one they chose with Rob Dillingham a couple of years ago in the lottery. It’s hard for me to see Okorie falling past this point.

OVERALL19 GUARD8
Ebuka OkorieStanford
An elite rim-pressure guard who lives in the paint; must work on passing and defense.
Read full profile ›
Photo of Ebuka Okorie Stanford
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He torched the gophers in that palm springs tournament
 





This story and Scalbrine quote always makes me chuckle:

In 2013, NBA player Brian Scalabrine, who averaged just 3 points per game over his career, responded to critics by challenging four volunteers who claimed they could beat him 1-on-1. In a public matchup, he dominated all four games, finishing with a combined score of 44–6.

The event became known as the “Scallenge” and is still remembered as one of the clearest examples of the massive gap between professional athletes and even highly skilled amateur players. By 2013, Brian Scalabrine had already retired from the NBA and was often the subject of jokes due to his limited playing time, with many pointing to his 3.1 points-per-game average as proof he wasn’t far above elite recreational players.

Scalabrine decided to challenge that perception directly. After hearing local players claim they could beat him one-on-one, he organized games against several strong amateur volunteers. The results were decisive—he won every matchup, finishing with a combined score of 44–6, showing that even post-retirement he was operating at a completely different level of speed, strength, skill, and basketball IQ.

The event produced one of the most famous quotes in sports, which remains unchanged:

“I’m closer to LeBron than you are to me.”

The line wasn’t arrogance, but a reality check about the skill gap between NBA players and everyone else. The Scallenge has since become a go-to reference whenever fans underestimate professional-level ability. Scalabrine’s career also included 11 NBA seasons and an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, along with over 500 games played—an achievement reached by only a tiny fraction of players worldwide.
 



Slim Tubby said:
This story and Scalbrine quote always makes me chuckle:

In 2013, NBA player Brian Scalabrine, who averaged just 3 points per game over his career, responded to critics by challenging four volunteers who claimed they could beat him 1-on-1. In a public matchup, he dominated all four games, finishing with a combined score of 44–6.

The event became known as the “Scallenge” and is still remembered as one of the clearest examples of the massive gap between professional athletes and even highly skilled amateur players. By 2013, Brian Scalabrine had already retired from the NBA and was often the subject of jokes due to his limited playing time, with many pointing to his 3.1 points-per-game average as proof he wasn’t far above elite recreational players.

Scalabrine decided to challenge that perception directly. After hearing local players claim they could beat him one-on-one, he organized games against several strong amateur volunteers. The results were decisive—he won every matchup, finishing with a combined score of 44–6, showing that even post-retirement he was operating at a completely different level of speed, strength, skill, and basketball IQ.

The event produced one of the most famous quotes in sports, which remains unchanged:

“I’m closer to LeBron than you are to me.”

The line wasn’t arrogance, but a reality check about the skill gap between NBA players and everyone else. The Scallenge has since become a go-to reference whenever fans underestimate professional-level ability. Scalabrine’s career also included 11 NBA seasons and an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, along with over 500 games played—an achievement reached by only a tiny fraction of players worldwide.
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If you've never seen the videos, they are revealing and hysterical. Scalabrine, who's career was basically garbage time, absolutely dominates civilians.
 

jamiche said:
If you've never seen the videos, they are revealing and hysterical. Scalabrine, who's career was basically garbage time, absolutely dominates civilians.
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One of my favorite all time videos. It’s hilarious
 


Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
On Thursday night we revealed Detroit's interest in Tyler Herro in the event that Milwaukee and Miami eventually finalize a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.

On Friday we added that Minnesota "indeed circled back to the Bucks this week to see what it would take to make another run at pairing Antetokounmpo with Anthony Edwards" ... only to be told that Milwaukee is asking "for even more now than the teams discussed" in February when the Wolves were among the leading trade suitors for No. 34.
 



Lots of recent steam about Connelly wanting to move up to draft PG Philon from Alabama.
 




Analysis of the Young Pups

www.nytimes.com

What are the biggest NBA Draft needs for all West teams? Assessing their young cores

Starting with the West, a team-by-team look at which young players are part of the future and which need replacing.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

Minnesota Timberwolves​

2023 draft: PF Julian Phillips (FA), SF Jaylen Clark (FA)
2024 draft: SG Terrence Shannon Jr., PF Enrique Freeman (2W, FA)
2025 draft: C Joan Beringer, C Rocco Zikarsky (2W)
Undrafted since 2023: PG Zyon Pullin

Analysis: Minnesota was one of the more top-heavy teams in the league, which left most of its developmental corps shut out, save for one exception. Shannon didn’t play much in the regular season due to injuries and mistakes, but he wound up helping the Timberwolves close out the Nuggets in the first round after Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu suffered injuries. Clark is a rugged defender but his offensive limitations make it hard for him to stay on the floor in the playoffs. Beringer is the center of the future, but he cleared 15 minutes just seven times. Fifty-three of the 94 minutes Phillips played after being traded from Chicago came in the final week of the season.

2026 draft picks: 28, 59

Draft need: The Timberwolves punted on 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham for Dosunmu’s unrestricted free agency. While Dosunmu is a priority, Minnesota also lost DiVincenzo to an Achilles tear, while free agent Mike Conley is in the twilight of his career. Bones Hyland is also a free agent. Minnesota should target another true point guard while adding a developmental forward.
 

Sounds like DAL is close to trading #9 to OKC for #12 & #17 with the Mavericks looking to add two (2) of Lendeborg, Aday and Moriz Johnson.

If that happens, teams could probably get their hands on Lively and Gafford at a relatively cheap cost.
 

Slim Tubby said:
Sounds like DAL is close to trading #9 to OKC for #12 & #17 with the Mavericks looking to add two (2) of Lendeborg, Aday and Moriz Johnson.

If that happens, teams could probably get their hands on Lively and Gafford at a relatively cheap cost.
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We better make something happen or we’re gonna be left behind.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
We better make something happen or we’re gonna be left behind.
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After looking at all of the realistic options and our complete dearth of tradable assets, I'm convinced there is no move the Wolves can make this offseason that will bridge the gap between us and OKC/SAS.
 



^ Well, here you go!

Randle traded to Brooklyn for nothing.

x.com

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) on X

Just in: Minnesota is sending Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade that sends Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. The Timberwolves will acquire Brooklyn’s No. 33 pick for Randle and No. 28. https://t.co/TvADMMNDlg
x.com x.com
 
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