The Minnesota Timberwolves' 2025-26 season ended with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, keeping them without an NBA championship. To improve their chances for the next season, they need to target elite scorers and veteran point guards in the offseason.
Key points
Timberwolves lost to Spurs in Game 6 of the playoffs
The loss keeps Timberwolves without an NBA championship
Timberwolves reached Conference Finals in previous two seasons
Team needs to target elite scorers this offseason
Anthony Edwards is a key player for the Timberwolves
Mentioned in this story
Kyrie IrvingFred VanVleet
Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Antonio SpursAnthony Edwards
8 Stars Timberwolves Should Targets to Make Finals Run in 26-27, Including Irving & VanVleet
Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
On Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves 2025-26 season came to a thunderous end when the San Antonio Spurs smashed their way to a Game 6 win on the road by a score of 139-109. The loss means the Wolves remain among the 10 teams to never win an NBA championship.
Yet, the Timberwolves aren’t far off after reaching the Conference Finals the previous two seasons and putting up serious resistance against the team with the second-best record in the league. Nevertheless, change is, and must come this offseason if Minnesota wants to make another serious run at its first title next season.
They have a superstar scorer in Anthony Edwards, and a ton of front-court depth they can use in a trade to land another elite scorer or impact veteran at point guard. With that in mind, we look at eight stars the team should make a run at this summer.
Mike Conley has been a nice veteran piece for the last four seasons. However, at 38, his best days are well behind him, and he could retire this summer. Plus, improved his free agent value with a strong postseason performance.
Q&A
Who are the Minnesota Timberwolves targeting for the 2026-27 season?
The Timberwolves are looking to target eight stars, including Kyrie Irving and Fred VanVleet, to enhance their roster.
What was the Timberwolves' record in the 2025-26 season?
The Timberwolves reached the Conference Finals but were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 139-109 in Game 6.
What changes are expected for the Timberwolves this offseason?
The Timberwolves are expected to make significant changes to their roster to improve their chances of winning their first NBA championship.
How did the Timberwolves perform in the playoffs this year?
The Timberwolves put up a strong fight in the playoffs, reaching the Conference Finals but ultimately losing to the Spurs.
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That is why Jrue Holiday should be a target this offseason. Yes, he is overpaid, but he is a winner, and surprise, surprise, he played a key leadership role in the Portland Trail Blazers getting back to the postseason this year. With Damian Lillard returning next season, he will be the odd man out. A swap of him for Rudy Gobert might be considered by both teams this summer.
After making a run at him in February, you can bet the Timberwolves will again pursue a trade for Milwaukee Bucks legend Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. The big question is, do they have the young players with upside that the Bucks will want?
If Milwaukee were okay with taking players like Gobert or Julius Randle in exchange, Minnesota would likely give up an obscene amount of draft picks to acquire the two-time MVP.
Another potential option to get a veteran point guard would be Fred VanVleet. The 32-year-old has a player option he could exercise to pursue a multi-year deal in the $15 million to $20 million range annually. Like Holiday, the one-time All-Star is a winning player and could be a real difference maker leading Minnesota’s offense next season. Assuming he is fully recovered from tearing his ACL last year.
If the Timberwolves want to be a bit bolder, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving could be available. There have already been reports that the team will look to move him in the next year because he doesn’t match the timeline they want to set with the new face of their franchise, Cooper Flagg.
A package of Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo’s expiring contract, and a future first round pick should be enough to get a deal done for the 34-year-old coming off of an ACL tear last year.
There were rumors last season that the Timberwolves made a hard push for future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. However, a deal wasn’t reached, and the Phoenix Suns instead traded him to the Houston Rockets. While it isn’t likely that Houston moves him, keeping a player close to retirement and trading Alperen Sengun would seem like bad business.
The Wolves could make a rock-solid offer, and the combo of Edwards and his idol teaming up for a season or two would be must-see television.
A player that could be had at a reasonable rate would be two-time All-Star Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star’s value has reached an all-time low because of his injury woes and off-court drama in recent years. If the Timberwolves have trouble making larger deals, Morant would be an interesting fallback option because if they can get him right, a Morant and Edwards combo would be terrifying.
If Minnesota likes the idea of a player like Durant, but he is unavailable, a backup option would be another future HOFer in Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George. Is he passed his prime and injury prone? Yes. But when healthy, he is still an impact player who would be a nice third option behind Edwards, and if they do keep Randle.
Speaking of Randle, the front office may decide a divorce is in the best interest of both sides. A player with a similar contract and also in need of a change of scenery is Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis. The three-time All-Star offers a similar skill set and could fit well in Minnesota’s system. The big issue is that he missed much of last season after suffering a meniscus tear.
