Hanifan's Offseason Outlook: Evaluating the Minnesota Timberwolves' 2025 offseason

For our second annual offseason outlook series, Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! We have already completed the Eastern Conference, so we will proceed in alphabetical order with the West before capping it all off with the Miami Heat. Today, we will be evaluating the Minnesota Timberwolves’ offseason.

Past Previews:

Sept. 1: Atlanta Hawks
Sept. 2: Boston Ce l tics
Sept. 3: Brooklyn Nets
Sept. 4: Charlotte Hornets
Sept. 5: Chicago Bulls
Sept. 6: Cleveland Cavaliers
Sept. 7: Detroit Pistons
Sept. 8: Indiana Pacers
Sept. 9: Milwaukee Bucks
Sept. 10: New York Knicks
Sept. 11: Orlando Magic
Sept. 12: Philadelphia 76ers
Sept. 13: Toronto Raptors
Sept. 14: Washington Wizards
Sept. 15: Dallas Mavericks
Sept. 16: Denver Nuggets
Sept. 17: Golden State Warriors
Sept. 18: Houston Rockets
Sept. 19: Los Angeles Clippers
Sept. 20: Los Angeles Lakers
Sept. 21: Memphis Grizzlies

Evaluating the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2025 offseason:

Additions: Enrique Freeman, Johnny Juzang

Subtractions: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luka Garza, Jesse Edwards (free agent), Josh Minott

Re-signed: Naz Reid, Julius Randle, Joe Ingles, Bones Hyland

Draft: Joan Beringer (No. 17 overall), Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 overall)

Hanifan’s outlook: The last two seasons have been two of the Timberwolves’ most successful … ever. However, coming off back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, they had a largely uneventful offseason in terms of external improvement.

Their most notable move was drafting French big Joan Beringer No. 17 overall last June. He’s raw, but he’s very athletic and a very good shot-blocker. It will take time for him to learn and bulk up, but I think it was a worthy dart throw.

Minnesota was a second apron team last year and wanted to duck below that threshold under their new ownership group, led by former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. As a result, they let Nickeil Alexander-Walker, well, walk — but they were able to re-sign both Naz Reid and Julius Randle while staying under the second apron.

I wasn’t very keen on re-signing Randle. I can’t say I’m high on the player, especially alongside Rudy Gobert in the short- or long-term. He’s too streaky of a 3-point shooter and isn’t good enough defensively to justify paying in this context. Personally, I think Reid is the better player — and more valuable to what they want to do.

Hanifan’s Offseason Outlook: Evaluating the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2025 offseason

Most importantly, Minnesota did a poor job addressing its need for another creator alongside star guard Anthony Edwards. They’re banking on Rob Dillingham to take that next step, even though I’m not quite sold he takes that second-year leap (he’s so small).

Most of the West around them got better. They didn’t, losing one of their most important players from last year’s postseason run. I understand wanting to avoid the second apron, but I hope we’re not looking at this situation as “what could have been?” years from now.