The Minnesota Timberwolves didn't make any notable offseason additions despite losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Minnesota drafted Joan Beringer (and Rocco Zikarsky, who is on a two-way) and signed Johnny Juzang to a two-way deal. They also notably re-signed Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Nevertheless, it was a quiet offseason for Tim Connelly and the Wolves.
Some people will point to the Wolves' lack of activity in an increasingly competitive Western Conference as a negative. Considering the improvements of teams like the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, this is a reasonable opinion. However, this also ignores the fact that the Wolves are back-to-back Western Conference finalists and the power of continuity.
Randle and Donte DiVincenzo being in the mix for another season will benefit the Wolves. Additionally, the Wolves' internal development of young players, including Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark, could help them make a surprising run in the West. Even Edwards at 24 and Jaden McDaniels at 25 are capable of taking sizable strides. During the offseason, Connelly openly discussed how he believes increased continuity will benefit the Wolves.
Randle and DiVincenzo playing being acclimated to the team will be beneficial
Last offseason, the Wolves traded for Randle and DiVincenzo just days before training camp. This proved to be an ideal move both from a basketball and financial perspective. Regardless, the Wolves got off to a slow start while having to integrate both Randle and DiVincenzo.
Notably, through 34 games, the Wolves sat at 10th in the conference with a 17-17 record. Minnesota eventually found some momentum, going 17-4 in its last 24 games and avoiding the Play-In Tournament. During this stretch, Randle thrived, and this carried over to the playoffs, where the Wolves dominated their first two series, with Randle playing at an elite level.
This season, there won't be the same adjustment period for Randle and DiVincenzo. As a result, they will likely be able to avoid a slow start, especially since other teams are trying to integrate new players into their systems. It's hard to argue that the Nuggets and Rockets additions aren't impressive. However, adding new players, even ultra-talented ones, typically takes some time for the team to reach an elite level. Luckily, the Wolves won't have to deal with this.
The Timberwolves' continuity and two-way excellence will help the team
Continuity won't just benefit the Wolves early in the season but will benefit them in the biggest moments. This core has already made a conference finals run together; they know what it takes to get back to that stage, and are hungry for more.
At the end of the season and playoffs, Minnesota proved to be one of the league's best teams. With Anthony Edwards and Randle, the Wolves have the star power needed to win at the highest level. Rudy Gobert and McDaniels anchor a stellar defense. Moreover, Naz Reid and DiVincenzo provide elite bench production.
Last year, the Wolves were one of four teams to rank in the top 10 on both ends of the court. Elite balance is key to making a deep playoff run, and with this core having another year of experience together, there's reason to believe they could improve on both ends of the court.
Overall, the Wolves check all the boxes of a true title contender, and their continuity is a big part of that. Both teams that played in the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, had a high level of continuity. While the Wolves' offseason might not have been flashy, it was effective, and their continuity is an undeniable advantage.