Finally. After a monotonous two months of nothingness, basketball is almost here. While the Summer League and Paris Olympics helped hold basketball fans' attention, the latter half of August and all of September have reminded us what the world feels like without the NBA to behold.
However, all of a sudden, a groundbreaking trade including the Minnesota Timberwolves sent shockwaves through the NBA. On September 27, Minnesota agreed with the New York Knicks to swap Karl-Anthony Towns in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected first-round pick.
The Timberwolves will look vastly different from a season ago with a retooled roster. Despite the drastic change of offloading one of the franchise's best players, the squad is once again poised to win a plethora of games and bring home numerous individual accolades. Below, we've projected which Timberwolves player has the best chance of winning: Clutch Player, Sixth Man, Most Improved, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP.
Clutch Player of the Year - Anthony Edwards
The Clutch Player of the Year is the latest of all major awards. The inaugural award was given to De'Aaron Fox in 2023 before Steph Curry brought home the Jerry West Trophy in 2024. Unlike most mainstream awards, the Clutch Player of the Year is a total toss-up sans a DeMar DeRozan nominee.
Fortunately for the Timberwolves, Minnesota rosters one of the best one-on-one scorers and shot-creators in the NBA. Anthony Edwards ranked in the top 10 in isolation points per game and held an effective field goal percentage of 47.6 percent in isolation. While Edwards turned the ball over more than most and connected on just 42.1 percent of his field goals, he's only 23 and will grow into a more efficient player.
Although isolation and crunch-time scoring go hand-in-hand, Edwards is also a reliable spot-up shooter. The athletic two-guard connected on 45.8 percent of his spot-up looks—adding further versatility to an already versatile offensive game. As is the case with most squads, the best player on the court will have the ball in his hands in the clutch. Edwards is Minnesota's best player, but also the most versatile scorer.
Sixth Man of the Year - Naz Reid
A repeat winner? There's surely potential for Naz Reid to bring home the Sixth Man of the Year Award for two consecutive seasons. After a yearlong battle with Sacramento Kings' Malik Monk, Reid surpassed the swingman by two first-place votes to achieve the honor.
This time around, Reid is a guaranteed candidate from the beginning of the season. A year ago, the 25-year-old big man averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 3-pointers per game. Not a far cry from his 2022-23 stats, but enough to justify the Sixth Man of the Year honor. Reid is likely a starter on nearly every team in the NBA, however, he plays behind one of the better power forward-center rotations in the league.
Of Reid's competitors, Minnesota rookie first-rounder Rob Dillingham may prove to be a worthy adversary. The former Kentucky standout averaged 15.2 points per game off the bench for the Wildcats as a freshman. While it could take some time for Dillingham to receive ample playing time, he's a special talent. Other than Dillingham, the newly acquired DiVincenzo is sure to challenge Reid's throne. The former Knick averaged 15.5 points per game primarily as a starter in 2023-24.
Most Improved Player - Jaden McDaniels
The 24-year-old Jaden McDaniels has been on the cusp of a breakout campaign for what has felt like several years. McDaniels' improvement was apparent although he didn't garner a single vote in 2023. From his second to third season, the 6-foot-9 forward's scoring average increased from 9.2 to 12.1, and his 3-point percentage skyrocketed nearly 10 percentage points.
Entering his fourth season, another mini-breakout was to be expected. Nonetheless, McDaniels' points, rebounds, assists, and blocks dipped from an impressive third season. Although it seemed like an unfortunate turn of events, McDaniels earned an All-NBA Defensive second team honor and upped his averages during Minnesota's deep playoff run.
Another year older and perhaps now the Wolves' second-most coveted player, a most-improved nod feels fitting for the underrated McDaniels. While McDaniels is in the best position to succeed, he'll battle several worthy adversaries. Minnesota youngsters like Leonard Miller and Josh Minott are low-key breakout candidates.
Rookie of the Year - Rob Dillingham
Typically, your highest draft pick is a shoo-in for a Rookie of the Year candidacy, and Dillingham is no different. The eighth overall selection in this year's draft is a microwave scorer—further elevating his status. It was mentioned Dillingham averaged 15.2 points in college, but what's more impressive is how many minutes it took the 19-year-old to accomplish such an average: only 23.3 minutes per game.
Dillingham was equal parts efficient as he was fearless. The 6-foot-1 guard launched 4.5 threes per game and connected on such attempts at a 44.4 percent rate. What's even more intriguing is Dillingham's ability to knock down contested looks. The Wildcat product drilled 46.7 percent of his defended three-pointers as a collegian.
It'll surely take time for Dillingham to adjust to the NBA's physicality, but his shooting and passing abilities appear easily translatable. Besides Dillingham, 27th overall pick Terrence Shannon Jr. looks the part. He possesses a strong, 6-foot-6 frame and incredible athleticism. Although Shannon might be immediately ready to contribute, he'll begin his inaugural campaign behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Joe Ingles, and DiVincenzo.
Defensive Player of the Year - Jaden McDaniels
No more Rudy Gobert? We'll attribute the Stifle Tower's removal to voter fatigue. Gobert has received the Defensive Player of the Year Award four times in the last seven seasons. He's a relative lock to be named a finalist, but voters always seem to be looking for the next big thing.
Enter McDaniels. The All-NBA Defensive second teamer is a lanky 6-foot-9 forward with a 7-foot wingspan. He possesses the footspeed to keep up with guards and the length to deter shots at or near the rim. McDaniels holds averages of 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game across four seasons. Last season, the defensive ace held opponents to a 6.9 percent decrease on attempts within 6 feet of the rim. To further illustrate McDaniels' versatility, he spent 27 minutes defending Jamal Murray in the playoffs and held the Denver Nuggets' guard to a 32.0 percent clip from the floor.
McDaniels is a do-it-all defensive menace and should be in line for consecutive All-NBA Defensive Team finishes. Gobert is his only true challenger. There's a slight possibility Alexander-Walker collects a few votes, but his capped playing time will deter voters from anointing him as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Most Valuable Player - Anthony Edwards
Is there anyone else? Edwards is the Wolves' best and most complete player. He's a superb scorer, an improving facilitator, and an above-average defender. The Timberwolves' star is coming off his best season as a pro. Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game en route to a top-10 MVP finish.
Another year older, Edwards will only get better. The 6-foot-4 guard has improved his scoring, assisting, and field goal percentage in every season in the league. Now 23 years old and coming off an outstanding Paris Olympics, Edwards is ready to take his game to the next level.
If the Wolves secure a top-three seed and another 50-plus win season, there's no reason for Edwards not to be named an MVP finalist. He's quickly ascended to superstardom and Minnesota has cleared both Edwards' and the team's path to remain competitive for years to come.