Timberwolves playoffs: From contracts to credibility, what’s at stake

Everyone does well when everyone does well. Real in life, real in group sports.

While the NBA is littered with players pursuing their own private dreams and goals, so often the path to everything everyone desires is easy– win.

It’s no various for the Timberwolves, who have– as they’ve reiterated all season– 8 starter-caliber players in their primary rotation. Those eight were set to open Minnesota’s first-round series Saturday night in Los Angeles with the goal of advancing the Timberwolves deep into the postseason for a 2nd straight season.

There are certainly individual benefits of doing so, as well.

Here’s a look at what’s on the line this postseason for each of Minnesota’s top 8:

Anthony Edwards

Already a rising superstar who has actually easily made top-10 player status. Becoming one of the game’s elite 3-point shooting threats has actually only raised what currently seemed a sky-high ceiling.

However if Edwards wants to get into the top-five range and begin becoming a serious, year-over-year MVP candidate and sign up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum in discussions about the truly elite players in today’s game, he’ll need to show he can win at the highest levels by playing and thinking the game.

An early exit this season will undoubtedly cause offseason conversations about actions he needs to take to be the player he already believes he is.

Julius Randle

Randle would like to alter his current perception as a non-playoff player. He enters this year’s postseason shooting 34% from the field and 28% from 3-point range with more turnovers than helps in playoff competition.

If he carries out well in these playoffs, and assists Minnesota advance because of it, it would establish Randle, 30, for an intriguing choice this summer season. He’s currently looking at a $31 million player alternative for next season, but if he assists key a deep playoff run, he could set himself up for another huge, long-lasting payday by opting out of the final year of his contract and testing the market.

Rudy Gobert

The nationwide consensus seems to be that Gobert isn’t a playoff player due to the fact that all anecdotal memories of previous postseason journeys include jump shots being made over the four-time Defensive Gamer of the Year’s outstretched arms.

In TheRinger.Com’s latest leading 100 player rankings, the center was available in at No. 58. There’s no embarassment in that, however it likely isn’t reflective of his value when Gobert is playing as he has more than the final quarter of the season.

If Gobert can help Minnesota make another deep playoff push with his interior defensive dominance and control of the glass, it would be another step toward him getting the national respect he should have.

Jaden McDaniels

There isn’t as much at stake individually for the 24 years of age, who’s already acknowledged as one of the game’s premier boundary protectors. However a postseason in which he finally resolves the Doncic riddle might put him at top of mind in his pursuit of a future Defensive Player of the Year award honor.

Mike Conley

As pure as it gets: At this point in his NBA career, the flooring general is still in hot pursuit of that evasive NBA title. Sure, strong individual play could stop any concerns about the 37-year-old guard’s ability to contend with larger, physical players as he ages. But Conley would likely take any route to a mid-June date with the Larry O’Brien Prize.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

A two-way wing with an increasingly reputable 3-point shot, Alexander-Walker should be highly sought after in this year’s free-agent market. This will be the first big-money contract of the wing’s profession, and the much better he plays on the supreme proving ground, the more cash he figures to make.

Plus, Alexander-Walker most likely wishes to eliminate the bad taste in his mouth after last year’s frustrating Western Conference Finals performance.

Naz Reid

Reid is a proven bet to pull out of his $15 million player alternative for next season, sending out the shooting big into free company.

Re-signing Reid– who has gotten fans around the league thanks to his diverse offending ability– has actually long been thought about a top concern for Minnesota. But the forward would succeed to put together a strong playoff run. It can only increase his competitive market.

Donte DiVincenzo

The wing is sealed in Minnesota’s long-term photo with a team-friendly agreement that extends through the next 2 seasons. He’s a huge piece of what the Wolves hope to perform in the future, and he showed with his outstanding playoff efficiencies with the New York Knicks last spring that he’s capable of competing on this phase.

Little figures to alter with these playoff results, but perhaps a strong performance might make a case that the sharpshooter must open next season in Minnesota’s beginning five.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) posts up versus Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) throughout the very first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray) Originally Released: April 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM CDT