Coming off their second consecutive Western Conference finals appearance, the Minnesota Timberwolves have had a quiet offseason. With their only activity being retaining Naz Reid and Julius Randle to long-term deals, and signing Joe Ingles to another one-year contract. The Wolves also saw three players signing elsewhere, with the most notable of which being guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Alexander-Walker was a key contributor for the Wolves in the past two seasons, shooting nearly 40% from three in the past two seasons. NAW's 3-and-D skillset off the bench provided immense value and depth for Minnesota.
Alexander-Walker's absence puts the Timberwolves in an interesting position, compounded by 37-year-old guard Mike Conley. In his exit interview, head coach of the Timberwolves, Chris Finch, mentioned the hope to have Conley in a significantly reduced role.
With the loss of Alexander-Walker and the hope for Conley to have his minutes decreased, a void has been created in the playing rotation. Minnesota has two remaining full roster spots, and I believe that any of these options could strengthen a Minnesota team looking to compete in a difficult Western Conference.
Malcom Brogdon
Minnesota is in a very interesting predicament when it comes to the point guard position. While Anthony Edwards is always going to be dominating on-ball possessions, it has become increasingly visible that in order to get the best version of Edwards and the Timberwolves, a steady point guard is a necessity. In his nine-year career, Malcom Brogdon has epitomized consistency, with career averages of 15.3 points and 4.7 assists, on nearly 40% from beyond the arc.
While his assist numbers aren't anything to marvel at, they are only paired with an average of 1.7 turnovers for his career. Brogdon's skill set pairs very well in a backcourt with Edwards, who will be dominating on-ball possessions.
Brogdon also brings much-needed size to the backcourt, standing at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Brogdon could offer much more defensive resistance to the existing guard options. Throughout the playoffs, Mike Conley would be forced into defensive mismatches, with bigger guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić taking full advantage of his 6-foot-1 frame. While Brogdon isn't known for defense, his larger frame and high IQ make him serviceable and an upgrade over existing options in Minnesota's backcourt.
Amir Coffey
3-and-D wings have become a necessity for every competing team in the NBA. With the amount of perimeter talent circulating in the NBA, no team can have a shortage of this archetype – one which Amir Coffey fits perfectly. In his five-year career, Coffey has had averages of 6.7 points on 38% shooting from three.
Coffey, who is from Hopkins, MN, and attended the University of Minnesota, would help fill the void of Nickeil Alexander-Walker's departure. He could potentially see an expanded role with Minnesota after averaging 18 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Coffey's 6-foot-7 frame could allow for the Timberwolves to experiment with different lineup combinations, one of which includes Anthony Edwards serving as the lead playmaker. Coffey has much room to grow in rounding out his game, only averaging two rebounds and one assist, but Minnesota could be the perfect opportunity for him to do so.
The Wolves could simply stand pat
As Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark enter their second year, they each have a unique opportunity to solidify their place in Minnesota's rotation. Over the course of their rookie seasons, each player showed signs of eventually becoming a key contributor for the Timberwolves. As a result, the Wolves may look to not make any major signings.
After being selected eighth in the 2024 NBA draft, Dillingham had a very inconsistent rookie season. Dillingham only averaged 4.5 points, receiving most of his playing time in blowouts. While his rookie campaign did not fare the way many expected, Dillingham had moments showcasing why the Timberwolves traded up to select him. Signing a guard like Brogdon could disrupt Dillingham's development. Likewise, signing a wing like Coffey could disrupt the growth of Shannon and Clark.
The Wolves find themselves in a very interesting position. With the Western Conference only getting better this season, it is imperative that the Timberwolves evaluate their options and make the right decision. That could mean signing someone like Brogdon or Coffey. Alternatively, they may look to stand pat and unleash their young talent.