As we finish up the first week of 2025, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in an interesting spot. The season is less than two weeks away from being halfway complete, and this team is still facing some major questions. Anthony Edwards has gotten back on track from a scoring perspective, but it remains unclear if the Wolves' offense can become and remain sustainable enough to make another deep playoff run.
With time running out to make major roster decisions, Minnesota will have to decide if their current team is the group they want to take into the playoffs, or if there are tweaks they can make that would be worth their trouble. Should they opt to make any additions or subtractions, the February 6 trade deadline is just over a month away.
Regardless of the current season's outcome, some players on the roster are in more of a position to make a potential exit from the Twin Cities this summer than others. With all that in mind, these four players are probably the most likely to leave Minnesota before the end of 2025.
Mike Conley
There is no question that Mike Conley is still a very effective floor general in year 18, which is honestly pretty crazy in and of itself. Putting him alongside Rudy Gobert, who he has obvious chemistry with, and giving him weapons like Anthony Edwards have clearly been factors that have benefitted his game and allowed his longevity to increase.
But as solid as Conley's output remains, the Timberwolves are always going to have to be future-minded because of Edwards' timeline. Mike was a fantastic addition at the 2023 trade deadline that ultimately increased their ceiling, given how we saw the team improve the following season. But there is always the possibility Minnesota could opt to go all-in on Rob Dillingham or pivot to another younger player at point guard.
Jaden McDaniels
For years, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have been seen as two parts of the same exciting young duo, largely due to them being selected in the same draft in 2020. And while McDaniels continues to bring value as a strong defender, his offensive game has not continued to grow at the same rate.
It seems that what the Wolves could use most at the starting small forward spot is a well-rounded three-and-D player. Jaden matches this description from the defensive side, but Minnesota may ultimately decide they need a more capable scorer as well. As talented as McDaniels is, there are some obvious drawbacks to having him in certain lineups.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Ever since he came to Minnesota at the same 2023 trade deadline Mike Conley was added, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has arguably been the Timberwolves' most consistent producer. Like McDaniels, NAW is an excellent defender and takes any matchup while navigating screens extremely well. His timely three-point makes are the cherry on top.
There should be no reason for the Wolves to seek to part ways with Alexander-Walker at all, but his contract situation means that his potential departure is a possibility. NAW will be an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason, and he may just be worth more than Minnesota is able to pay him.
Julius Randle
We all knew this one was coming. Most Timberwolves fans probably thought Karl-Anthony Towns would finish his NBA career in a Minnesota uniform, but here we are. Julius Randle's production has been solid in the big picture since he joined the team in September, but the reality is that he is simply not as good a fit with this roster as KAT was.
There is now enough of a sample size that we can say that much with confidence. It certainly seems like Randle is among the top candidates on this roster to be moved given his price tag as well as his player option for next season. Is there a way Minnesota could make things work with him long-term? Probably, but it just feels like there are too many better alternatives out there.