It’s not always easy for a new-look team to reach its peak in its first full year together. Even the Miami Heat trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh didn’t win the title until their second year together. The New York Knicks’ starting five were in their second year together when that ended their lengthy championship drought.
This isn’t meant to excuse the Minnesota Timberwolves if things don’t go completely right for them in the 2026-27 season. It’s just to say that it could take more than one year to break through. The team has gone through big changes, led by adding LaMelo Ball.
The good news is that much of their core is under contract in 2027-28 and 2028-29. As long as they don’t miss their expectations by a wide margin this season, they will get multiple chances to reach the mountaintop.
The Timberwolves' core should mostly remain together
On Monday, the Timberwolves announced that Jaden McDaniels agreed to a one-year extension for $40 million. Any extra time the Timberwolves keep the currently 26-year-old ascending player is good news.
That extension won’t begin until the 2029-30 season because McDaniels’ previous deal goes through 2028-29. The 2028-29 season is also how long Anthony Edwards’ and Ball’s contracts run through.
Ayo Dosunmu’s new deal runs until the 2029-30 season with a player option for 2030-31. Jaylen Clark’s deal is for this season and the next two. The Wolves need a player, or two, locked up for cheap, playing large roles. Clark isn’t guaranteed a large role, but any offensive growth makes his three-year, $10 million contract an absolute steal.
Joan Beringer will have no-brainer third- and fourth-year options to be picked up in the following two seasons. He should continue improving, as he is not yet 20.
Now, not everyone is locked up long-term for the Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert and Jonathan Kuminga have player options for next season, and Kuminga almost certainly will decline his. The team believes that Donte DiVincenzo can return at some point this season, but once the year is over, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
It is also good for these players to know they don’t have to worry much about their contracts entering the season. Unlike the Knicks—who saw a lot of offseason discussion around potential extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride—the Timberwolves don't have much to worry about regarding that noise.
Still, that’s a lot of key players who remain under contract for the Timberwolves past this season. The Timberwolves could still find a way to keep around Gobert, Kuminga, and/or DiVincenzo.
The team would love to reach its ceiling this season. If they don’t reach their ceiling, they should have more chances to do so with more continuity.
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