I don't want to be overly dramatic or hyperbolic, but the Minnesota Timberwolves look broken right now. They are on a three-game losing streak, with each loss being by at least 14 points. The team looks disconnected and has been maddeningly inconsistent on both ends of the floor.
Stranger things have happened, and I have learned never to discount an Anthony Edwards-led team. However, right now, all signs point to the Wolves losing in one of the first two rounds, and this would undoubtedly lead to an offseason shake-up.
At least one member of the frontcourt (likely Randle) will be traded
The Wolves' trade deadline pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo was well-documented. It's widely expected that these talks will resume in the summer. At least two of Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert will have to be traded to land Giannis. Even if the Wolves don't trade for Giannis, I think they'll shake up their frontcourt.
Tim Connelly's pursuit of Giannis at the deadline and Kevin Durant last offseason shows that he's not satisfied with the roster. An early exit in the playoffs would ramp up his aggression.
Trading McDaniels unless it's for a player like Giannis seems to be off the table. Of the remaining three frontcourt players, Randle seems to be the most likely trade candidate. Gobert is too important to the Wolves' defense, and Reid is a beloved homegrown talent who has a close bond with Anthony Edwards.
Trading Randle also gives the Wolves the clearest path to land a more consistent co-star next to Ant. The possibility of flipping him for a point guard would be ideal.
Minnesota has a logjam at the frontcourt, yet Randle and Reid provide little rim protection. Thus, it feels likely that one of them would get moved, which would open up minutes for Joan Beringer, who has flashed solid two-way potential in his rookie year. As outlined, though, Randle is the more likely of the two to be traded.
The Wolves giving Reid a $125 million deal in the offseason underscores their confidence in him as a starter, and trading Randle is the clearest path to giving him a bigger role. Perhaps the Wolves go on a magical playoff run, and all of this looks foolish in a few months. I'd love to see that, but reading between the lines, right now, an early exit and an offseason overhaul seem more likely than not.
Chris Finch's future is uncertain
While I think a frontcourt trade is nearly certain, I'm not as sure about Chris Finch's future. There's no denying that he's on the hot seat to some level. How early and how the Wolves lose in the playoffs will likely be a key factor. Furthermore, Ant's opinion on Finch will play a massive role.
Even if you don't think Finch should be fired, moving off coaches after underwhelming play is a clear league-wide trend. Having a top assistant in Micah Nori certainly makes moving off Finch easier.
Right now, the Timberwolves look disconnected on both ends of the floor, and that could be due to Finch losing the locker room. Who knows if that's truly the case, but it's worth flagging for sure. Another thing that's worth noting is that Gobert called out Finch last month for not benching players who display a lack of effort.
Finch's unwavering loyalty to Randle has been well-documented. Could Randle and Finch be a package deal of sorts? I think that's a strong possibility, especially if Randle's current slump carries over to the playoffs and Finch continues to close games with him.
Ultimately, barring something unforeseen happening, it's fair to expect some degree of change this offseason. Hopefully, this gives the Timberwolves a better chance of building a title-winner around Edwards.