We are around one month into the 2024-25 NBA season, and we now have a much clearer picture of what this Minnesota Timberwolves team looks like. There is no doubt the squad has some glaring concerns, and things that make it hard to see them in the same light as the team that went to the Western Conference Finals a season ago.
With that said, there is still tremendous upside for this squad. With Anthony Edwards at the helm and an extremely talented supporting cast, the Wolves can still have a high ceiling. The question will be whether they can resolve their issues in time, or whether we will end up with a repeat of the 2022-23 season in the Twin Cities.
As Minnesota looks to optimize their performance, it is highly unlikely that every player on the active roster would be considered untouchable in trade talks. Looking down the list of players, there are some names that jump off the page as obvious candidates for a potential trade ahead of the February deadline.
Mike Conley
Let's go ahead and get the most shocking one out of the way first. Just four weeks ago, you would have been called crazy had you even floated the idea of Minnesota considering a trade for Mike Conley. He was a consistently reliable performer all throughout his first season and a half with the team, and he has been key to unlocking Rudy Gobert offensively.
With that in mind, Conley's performance has taken a sharp left turn recently. He has still had his bright spots, but the time to consider Minnesota Mike's age might be here. The veteran is 37 years old and heading into a contract year next season. His averages of 7.5 points and 4.8 assists are certainly a bit underwhelming. If there is a chance the Timberwolves can flip him for a younger floor general, you would have to think they explore the possibility.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
When it comes to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, his name gets thrown on this list purely because of the new restrictions of the latest collective bargaining agreement in the NBA. We learned after the Karl-Anthony Towns trade that Minnesota was at risk of losing both Naz Reid and Alexander-Walker if they had opted to keep KAT and his massive contract.
Now, NAW is in a precarious position in the final year of his current contract. He is making just $4.3 million in the current season, making him one of the best contracts in the league considering his production. But his career resurgence since joining the Timberwolves means he is due for a pay increase, and Minnesota may not be able to offer what he is worth.
Joe Ingles
One player who has surprisingly been a non-factor for the most part through one month of the season is Joe Ingles. Back in the offseason, the front office signed Ingles as essentially the veteran replacement for Kyle Anderson. Instead of playing Anderson's minutes, Ingles has essentially rode the bench to the tune of 3.7 minutes in seven total games.
Ingles is on a one-year contract in Minnesota, so the Timberwolves may try to gauge interest among postseason-bound teams that would consider taking him on for the sake of having another veteran in the locker room.