There have been many notable storylines in this Minnesota Timberwolves season. The team entered the year with some challenging circumstances, but have overcome several of them to look like a very dangerous team with just one month remaining in the regular season. The concept of what this team could be was always a thrilling idea, and we are now beginning to see it come to fruition.
Julius Randle's newfound style of play has served to tremendously elevate his teammates, generating a lot of open looks and really opening up Minnesota's offense. Donte DiVincenzo has been a huge ceiling-raiser with his strong all-around play and lethal three-point shooting. And as always, Anthony Edwards has been tearing it up. He has really found his groove once again, after some brief struggles to begin the season. All things considered, this Timberwolves team is probably one that a lot of Western Conference foes will not want to see in the playoffs next month.
Among the most significant developments for this team since the start of 2025 has been the strong play and progression of Jaden McDaniels. The fifth-year wing has always had the foundation to become an elite two-way player on a consistent basis, but he had often struggled with consistency in years past. Now, he is truly putting it all together and has become one of the main reasons for the Timberwolves' success.
The Timberwolves should build more through the draft
Chris Finch talked about this on KFAN with Paul Allen on Tuesday morning. "With everybody coming back, I'm very determined to keep Jaden at the center of what we are doing," Finch said. He called back to Sunday's contest against the San Antonio Spurs. "Early on in the game, we called his number a few more times than we would have a few months ago, just to make sure he stays in a good rhythm, stays as a serious threat. I don't want him to just kind of revert to a fifth option."
Clearly, the team is going to continue being intentional about using McDaniels as one of their top offensive options going forward. With that being the case, it should be becoming even more evident how much the Timberwolves will want to lean into building through the draft going forward. If they feel like they can trust Jaden to consistently be the Robin to Anthony Edwards' Batman for the foreseeable future, then they have their star duo of the present.
What they will then want to do is continue building up the players that will represent the core of the future. Continue to put your trust in Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and others while also being intentional about acquiring more draft picks and using them to take players you believe can fill in alongside your other core guys.
With McDaniels' leap clearly being more than just a flash in the pan at this point, this becomes the obvious next step for Minnesota. You have your co-star of today, so now concern yourself with being intentional about building through the draft. Such an approach will serve to lengthen the Timberwolves' contending window as Anthony Edwards approaches his true prime years.