It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and part of it is the potential impact of the league’s plans for expansion. The NBA is looking into adding a 31st and 32nd team to begin play in the 2028-29 season, and with those teams likely to wind up in Seattle and Las Vegas, there’s a good chance the Wolves could make a move to the Eastern Conference if everything goes to plan.
Getting out of a conference with Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander standing in their way would automatically make the Wolves big winners if the expansion plans go through. But it could also bring a significant amount of cash.
A report by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed that bidders for a new franchise in Las Vegas have been told the approximate cost of expansion fees for a new franchise could exceed $8 billion. While Seattle could have smaller fees due to their smaller market, Windhorst still estimated that it could bring in $15 billion to $18 billion in revenue that could be split among the league’s existing teams.
Another $500 million to $600 million in revenue could have a significant impact for the Timberwolves off the court and with several expenses that controlling owners Mac Stad and Alex Rodriguez will have to pay in the future, the ramifications of two new teams could make the Wolves big winners on and off the court.
Timberwolves could use NBA’s expansion revenue to pay their upcoming expenses
After acquiring the majority share of the franchise from Marc Lore for $4.5 billion earlier this summer, Stad already gave the green light to signing Jonathan Kuminga. But there will be many more approvals needed as he inherits a luxury tax bill that is estimated by Spotrac at $23.3 million this season.
Those estimates also show the Wolves’ new owners may have to pay $238.6 million between the tax and the team’s payroll, and that number could soon skyrocket as Anthony Edwards could be eligible for a supermax contract next summer (though it wouldn't kick in until 2029).
If Edwards plays in 65 games and either makes an All-NBA team or wins a major individual award such as MVP, he’ll be eligible for a four-year, $301 million supermax extension next summer. In addition, the Wolves may also have to work out contract extensions for LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels, as their deals expire after the 2028-29 season.
Those concerns are just on the court. Tim Connelly is entering the final year of his contract as president of basketball operations. While he has an incentive to finish that deal due to the “phantom equity” he received in that contract, a new deal could include that same clause that could push his total value over $60 million.
Considering Connelly’s work since coming to Minnesota, it’s a fair price to pay. But it’s also a microtransaction compared to a new arena to replace Target Center, which could cost somewhere between $1 billion and $2 billion.
While few fans want to hear about the business side of their team, the Timberwolves’ financial situation is something worth monitoring after CNBC previously reported that the Timberwolves operated at a deficit of $56 million during the 2024-25 season.
NBA expansion could be a massive win for the Timberwolves
While a new stadium and competitive team will help, the Wolves have to foot that bill in the meantime and that’s why a massive check from the NBA’s expansion fees could help them immensely.
The Wolves are already winners for basketball reasons if the NBA makes Las Vegas and Seattle its next two franchises. In addition to going to the lesser of the two conferences, fans won’t have to stay up until midnight to watch games and could build closer rivalries with teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Detroit Pistons.
But the Wolves' looming bills have begun to pile up, and with a new owner in charge, it’s interesting to see how Stad and Rodriguez will use those funds. And with the NBA also planning on building a 16-team league in Europe, that’s even more money the Wolves could use to their advantage.
Add it all up, and the Wolves stand to profit from the decision and could use their potential windfall to keep their momentum toward chasing a championship.
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