Despite making back-to-back conference finals appearances, the Minnesota Timberwolves rarely get brought up as true contenders. But frankly, I don't understand why. The Wolves are 26-14 (fourth in the Western Conference but just 1.5 games behind the second seed) and have all the ingredients of a championship-level team.
Star talent and two-way balance are the two biggest indicators of a championship contender -- the Wolves have both. Anthony Edwards is a top-five-level player. Edwards has already proven that he is capable of being the best player on a team that makes a deep playoff run, but he is continuing to level up and is currently in the midst of a career season. Notably, Edwards is averaging a career-high 28.9 points and has added a mid-range shot to become a more well-rounded scorer.
Julius Randle is a fantastic co-star, while Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are awesome complementary players. Additionally, Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid are two fantastic sparkplugs. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Wolves are one of five teams with a top 10 offense and defense. On top of all this, the Timberwolves seem destined to bolster their depth ahead of the trade deadline.
By all accounts, the Wolves are positioned for another deep playoff run, and they could even make a leap to the NBA Finals.
The Timberwolves are clear contenders (even if they aren't favorites)
Listen, the Wolves shouldn't be title favorites; the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder should hold that claim until further notice. Even after the Thunder, the Denver Nuggets should be second in command; this is the best supporting cast Nikola Jokic has ever had.
Nevertheless, in my eyes, the Wolves have the third-best chance to win the championship. The Houston Rockets have been underwhelming and are currently a Play-In team. The San Antonio Spurs are too young, and the Los Angeles Lakers' defense is truly awful.
No team in the Eastern Conference has been impressive enough for me to consider them a true threat to win the title. The New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons are the closest. Nevertheless, between the Knicks' two best players being poor defenders and the Pistons' lack of playoff experience and shooting, both teams have clear flaws.
Given what we've seen from the Wolves this season and their playoff experience, it's hard to argue that they aren't in the inner circle of title contenders. While it won't be easy for the Timberwolves to win it all, when you're in the inner circle of contenders, anything is possible.
The Wolves weren't expected to make the conference finals in either of the past two seasons. Who is to say they can't do it again and reach another level, especially if they make a move at the deadline?