Minnesota Timberwolves: Examining the offseason outlook and their future

Taking a look at how to improve the Minnesota Timberwolves and how they can become contenders out in the West in the future

The Minnesota Timberwolves finished the 2018-19 season at 36-46 which was 12 games out of the final playoff spot in the West. Not good for a team that currently is projected to have about (-)$13 million in cap space to work with this summer.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins is a decent duo to build around, it may not be a superstar duo but KAT is 23 and Wiggins is 24 so they still have room to grow and their primes ahead. But improving this team around them will be tricky considering their cap situation.

I see the Timberwolves similar to the Hornets, they have a lot of contracts on their books that have a high number and short term improvement will be hard to come by unless guys already in the organization get better. The difference is the Wolves have KAT and Wiggins locked up, the Hornets are doing whatever they can to keep Kemba Walker.

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So let’s take a look at what sits on the Wolves books. It was a given that Jeff Teague would opt into his $19 million player option, although a solid player there was no way he was seeing the number anywhere else. He could’ve opted out and tried to find a long term deal, but that number was too high so you can’t blame him for opting in.

One contract that Minnesota could try and get out of is the $33 million owed to Gorgui Dieng over the next two years, he is not worth that to the Wolves but someone out there may be willing to take it on and re-create the player he’s been in Minnesota and give him more opportunities. They would not receive much in return for him, but that could soften a luxury tax blow and set them up after the 2019-20 season with a fresh slate around KAT and Wiggins.

Getting out of Teague and Dieng’s deals would be very beneficial for the Wolves considering they’re not the best fits for this team. That would shed about $52 million over the next two years and $35 million for next year, not including what they would have to take back in a deal.

The bright side is the Wolves also have some contracts that play to their advantage, Okogie is on a rookie deal and showed promise, Saric is also on his rookie deal and one of the main pieces in the Jimmy Butler deal with the 76ers. But with Saric up after next year, he will be eligible for an extension shortly, would Minnesota be willing to go into luxury tax with the way they’re constructed? I highly doubt it.

The best contract on Minnesota’s books would have to be Robert Covington, he is signed through the 2021-22 season at around $12 million each year average, this is steal considering he’s one of the best defenders in the league and his shooting splits with Minnesota were 43/37/77. Find many players in the league today that play on the wing, that are plus offensive players and great defenders, very rare.

Taj Gibson, Luol Dene, Anthony Tolliver, and Jerryd Bayless are likely gone, none will be a substantial loss besides Gibson, who could come back if it isn’t too pricy, but long term he doesn’t look to be a fit as more than just a locker room guy. Tolliver will likely receive a decent contract from a team like OKC on an MLE that is desperate for shooting, Minnesota also has an MLE but they need more than Tolliver considering they have Saric and Covington who spread the floor for them.

Tyus Jones should be back at a reasonable price and possibly could start if Teague is traded. Which brings us to one of the more important questions, do the Timberwolves bring back Derrick Rose after his season he had last year?

Rose played great as the 6th man which is why I suggested Tyus Jones possibly starting, and if Rose is back staying in his spot off the bench. But numbers will be tough, Rose will garner free agency attention, and one of those teams could be the Chicago Bulls which I believe would highly interest Rose because of his ties to the city.

It is worth noting that the Timberwolves do hold a few options for Rose’s Bird Rights. Early Bird would be about $8.8 million per year and the length is two years minimum and also the mid-level which would push it to about $9.3 million per year. Would Rose be willing to do one of those, and also would Minnesota be willing to front a luxury tax bill if possible?

I see Derrick Rose returning to the Wolves next year after doing some free agency stops, he speaks highly of the organization and he credits them a lot for reviving his image. So that would be a huge boost for this team if he can put up the same numbers next year as he did this last year.

The Wolves best piece they can go into the offseason with is the 11th pick in the NBA draft, where do they go with that? Do they go with shooting or a defense first guy? There are many possibilities there that could help them build around KAT and Wiggins. What about trading the pick and moving back into the first around getting another pick and taking Matisse Thybulle?

Thybulle and Covington would be a great duo on defense and the Wolves could get another young asset to pair with their young core. I believe they will be active at the draft in trying to make moves and ultimately should look at whatever route they can take to get out of Teague and Dieng’s contracts.

When looking at the big picture, the Wolves don’t have an easy path to contending soon, their goal should be getting younger and building in house, the exception being Derrick Rose who would provide a punch off the bench and a locker room guy. This way the Wolves can avoid the luxury tax and being repeat offenders down the line for when they do become contenders they’re willing to pay it in a few years.

A lineup consisting of Tyus Jones, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Covington, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Dario Saric, Derrick Rose, Josh Okogie, any compensation they’d receive from Teague and Dieng and another asset if they traded the 11th pick would be one of the better young cores and stay under the luxury tax.

It may not sound like a contender now, but all those players have higher ceilings to reach and with Derrick Rose proving he’s still got some years in the tank left can only prove to be a positive for this Wolves franchise.