The recent few seasons have been some exciting times for the Wolves. Two back-to-back conference finals runs aren't something to just gloss over, especially considering the team's underwhelming history. But despite the recent success, they've hit the same roadblock every season.
Unless something shocking happens, I don't see them going any further this year after drawing the Denver Nuggets in the first-round and being lined up in the tougher side of the Western Conference playoff bracket.
At some point, if the roster can get you to a certain point, but nowhere beyond that, then it has to be time to come to terms with the fact that the roster isn't good enough for the goals they have set. Unless they secure a miracle finals berth this season, it's wise to retool the roster after these playoffs.
They need to go all-in on the Anthony Edwards timeline
Anthony Edwards is arguably a top-five player in the sport. Not to mention, he also hasn't even had his 25th birthday yet. The Wolves have a few young pieces that fit his timeline well in Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, and Joan Beringer. Still, they also have a lot of guys playing significant minutes that aren't going to be here when Ant enters his prime.
Julius Randle is 31 and under a somewhat team-friendly contract. If the Wolves are to shop him this offseason, plenty of win-now teams would be interested in his services. The Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks come to mind as potential destinations.
In five years, when Ant is in his in the middle of his true prime, it's highly unlikely that Julius Randle is either still in Minnesota or still a viable second option. Trading him for someone who projects as more of a long-term piece makes a lot of sense. Donte DiVincenzo is another guy who, while he is very important to this team, a trade could make sense.
He'll be going into a contract year next season, and he's almost 30-years-old. The Wolves have lots of young guard depth around Anthony Edwards in Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, and Terrance Shannon Jr. If the Wolves aren't planning to extend Donte, trading him for a longer-term piece could be worth it in the long haul.
This roster probably isn't a championship contender
A lot of the contenders in the Western Conference have things that the Wolves don't, and that's more star power around their superstars.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, Victor Wembanyama has De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Luka Doncic has Austin Reaves and LeBron James, Kevin Durant has Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, Nikola Jokic has Jamal Murray. Need I go on?
I don't mean to disrespect Julius Randle; he's a great player. But all the other Western Conference superstars have elite co-stars who fit exactly with what their superstar wants to do. Anthony Edwards doesn't have that yet.
So if the Wolves flame out in the playoffs, Tim Connelly should look long and hard around the league to find an elite Robin to Anthony Edwards' Batman.