The Minnesota Timberwolves are truly devoid of first-round picks after the LaMelo Ball trade. Specifically, they only have their 2032 pick, the lesser of their own pick and Charlotte's pick in 2028, along with a complicated 2030 pick swap.
Gutting your draft capital can be risky, and it could always backfire. However, the reality is that many of those picks were already moved before trading for Ball. And more importantly, the Wolves aren't going all in on an aging core -- they have built a sustainable title contender.
Currently, Rudy Gobert and Trey Lyles are the team's only players who are at least 30 years old. Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu, Joan Beringer, Terrence Shannon Jr., and LaMelo are all 26 years old or younger.
As is, the Timberwolves are set up to compete for a title, and it's likely that several of these younger players will further level up. Sure, they might not be at the same level as the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder, but they are the leaders of the next tier in my mind.
Given the age of their core, the Wolves should have a puncher's chance for the foreseeable future.
The Timberwolves have built a sustainable contender, which negates the need for draft picks
The Timberwolves, being well-positioned to compete for a championship not just this year but for years to come, make their lack of draft capital all the more palatable.
Worst-case scenario, the Timberwolves can explore player-for-player trades if it's clear roster changes are needed.
Tim Connelly's affinity for big moves and willingness to part ways with draft capital is controversial. I'm a supporter of this bold strategy, though. When you have a player like Anthony Edwards, you need to maximize the roster around him, and to truly do that, you need to take some chances.
Did the Wolves overpay for Gobert four years ago? In a vacuum, yes. Nevertheless, Gobert helped accelerate the Wolves' timeline and gave Edwards a chance to play meaningful basketball at a young age. That experience is invaluable at some level.
Even without access to a boatload of future picks thanks to the Gobert trade, Connelly has found a way to reinvent the roster around Edwards. The Timberwolves still need to add another forward, but they suddenly have a roster that complements Ant-Man far better than in past years, and, as noted, it fits his timeline!
The primary reason that this roster makes more sense around Edwards is the extra playmaking and shot creation that Ball provides. A high-end creator and playmaker is an element that Ant has never had in the backcourt until now. This, paired with simply having a consistent second option alongside him, should be a game-changer.
Beyond that, McDaniels, Dosunmu and Gobert offer some clear defensive support. It's also worth noting that besides Gobert and Beringer, the Wolves have a ton of floor spacing alongside Edwards.
The bigger picture is that the Timberwolves are poised to be championship contenders for the foreseeable future thanks to their 26-and-under core. As such, their limited draft capital isn't a big problem at all.
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