The 2025 Wolves Off Season

[WolfAddict]

We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court.

If that was the only thing a half decent PG could provide, I'd agree with you - But there's a lot more to PG play than just "dribble the ball up the court"

[younggunsmn]

... We barely made the sixth seed last year and were a game away from being in the playin we absolutely can not afford to lose games.

Lol, you have a point. Maybe I'm being too optimistic.

At the end of the day, the coaching staff and connelly have a sense of what Rob MAY be able to provide next year better than any of us.

It's going to be their call if we NEED a pg. So far, looking like the answer is "no", but we will all find out..

You make a great point. Finch and Connelly know best how much they can count on Dilly and so far they have done NOTHING about acquiring another PG.

Honestly I think its partly about not having great options and partly about being right up against the limit of his budget.
At about 225 mil in salary and luxury tax when you throw in the cash received in trades so far.
That seems like a number ownership might have thrown at him.
Although its more than I personally thought theyd spend, its a good deal less than the near 300 million from last year.
Every extra dollar they add now comes with an additional 2.5+ dollars in luxury tax.

Plus you have one roster spot left and crazy things happen like Damian Lillard getting waived.
Personally I try to get the best backup PG I can find for the minimum RIGHT NOW.
But with the last spot being a likely vet minimum, they probably wait out the market a bit for the right player.
Maybe even just sign someone to a partial guarantee and have a training camp battle, or check the waiver wire when players are cut in pre season.

If I were TC I would be trying to sign the most NBA ready point guard I could get on a 2-way right now too.

[Klomp]

We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court.

If that was the only thing a half decent PG could provide, I'd agree with you - But there's a lot more to PG play than just "dribble the ball up the court"

I think Dillingham will surprise a lot of people next year. Honestly, watching back some of his highlights, I had forgotten how many of his most memorable plays came in big moments against good defenders on good teams. In January and February, he looked really solid. Of course he wasn't perfect, no one is.

Conley is Conley. I don't really think we have to worry about him, even if the upside is no longer high.

After that, while not technically PGs, guys like Ant, Donte and Julius can absolutely initiate offense if called upon.

[WolfAddict]

We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court.

If that was the only thing a half decent PG could provide, I'd agree with you - But there's a lot more to PG play than just "dribble the ball up the court"

I think Dillingham will surprise a lot of people next year. Honestly, watching back some of his highlights, I had forgotten how many of his most memorable plays came in big moments against good defenders on good teams. In January and February, he looked really solid. Of course he wasn't perfect, no one is.

Conley is Conley. I don't really think we have to worry about him, even if the upside is no longer high.

After that, while not technically PGs, guys like Ant, Donte and Julius can absolutely initiate offense if called upon.

100% on Rob - I honestly think he takes a leap this next season.

[Domejandro]

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

I am operating with the presumption that Julius Randle is not being traded within the next month, because I do not see a real scenario where Minnesota extends him just to immediately ship him off. If it happens, I'll totally eat crow, but I just don't see it. Every post of mine is assuming that Minnesota's roster is as-is.

[Note30]

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

I am operating with the presumption that Julius Randle is not being traded within the next month, because I do not see a real scenario where Minnesota extends him just to immediately ship him off. If it happens, I'll totally eat crow, but I just don't see it. Every post of mine is assuming that Minnesota's roster is as-is.

I think you're right, it is unfortunate though.

[winforlose]

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

I am operating with the presumption that Julius Randle is not being traded within the next month, because I do not see a real scenario where Minnesota extends him just to immediately ship him off. If it happens, I'll totally eat crow, but I just don't see it. Every post of mine is assuming that Minnesota's roster is as-is.

The specific number of the extension makes me curious. It is just enough to keep him trade eligible without waiting sixth months. Also as I said, I hope we don’t use the TPMLE and avoid a hard cap if we cannot sign an impact player.

[minimus]

If I had to choose between adding a PG or a C, I think I'm leaning C, simply because I don't want to throw in the two rookies before they are ready. We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court. I will say though, if both Zikarsky and Edwards are on two-ways, going guard might be more likely.

Well, I hope Gobert not playing internationally this summer and having Reid/Randle entering this offseason locked into new contracts should give us enough depth at the beginning of new season. I agree that throwing big minutes to Beringer/Zikarsky is suboptimal, but it is more about well defined role and mindset. I remember Ariel Hukporti case, when he gave Knicks some unexpected minutes while being 58 pick last year. Still all Garza's garbage minutes should go to either Beringer or Zikarsky. It will be fun.

PG position is much more difficult to handle. I'd try to convince Delon Wright to come here and be insurance 3rd string PG behind Conley and Dilly. Wright is 6'5" comboguard with 6'7" wingspan and some defense who can hit open 3s. He would offer some positional versatility that we lost with NAW trade. Final roster with Wright would look much more balanced:

Gobert/Reid/Beringer + Zikarsky
Randle/McDaniels/Miller
McDaniels/TJ/Wright
Edwards/DDV/Clark/
Conley/Dillingham/Wright

Watch on YouTube

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I may be one of the few peoples here not worry about the PG thing. Rob will definitely improved (which limit?) and Mike will be better than last year. I think our success depends more on ANT keep improving and limiting his turnover, Jaden being consistent at 18PPG par game and NAZ improving in defense. Randle will be Randle and Rudy will still be strong. We are also not safe to have a huge surprise with TSJ or Clark.

[Neeva]

Counter arguments.

1. Dame is not young, and even if he makes it back before the playoffs, (big if, especially considering his age,) then he will likely be out of shape and not very effective. Tying up the TPMLE money also kicks us out of the buyout market and restricts our moves late in the season (assume for example we need to convert Rocco, I would have to check the math but that could get very difficult.)

2. Mike is not a starting quality PG on a contender. Dilly isn’t even a backup quality PG based on last year. If they split the 48 minutes we will struggle. You say it is the 12 or 13th man, I say whoever we sign is likely to start, or we make a trade and use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. Either way it is costing us a rotation player.

3. If Dame could get back in time for the season and could make a similar deal, why make it with us. Why not an eastern conference team with an easy road? We are never gonna be favored against OKC, and there are multiple other teams who might be a tough matchup without a legit PG.

Here is how I see it with those three points.

1. We are not converting Rocco next season. Ignoring that though, First and Second Apron teams are not able to sign players in the buyout market who have contracts that exceed the non-taxpayer MLE. Maybe you can identify someone, but it is extraordinarily unlikely that there is a miracle player making less than the MLE that a team is going to buy-out prior to the deadline near the end of the season; that strategy (which was always prety overrated) is mostly dead. Additionally, Minnesota HAS to sign at least one more player to reach the fourteen player minimum, going into the season. You can't go into seasons with thirteen players anymore, with the new CBA. Yes, the new CBA is dumb and overly restrictive.

2. There are no players left on the market who are going to start over Mike Conley. Unfortunately, there just aren't any starting-caliber Point-Guards left, we are quickly entering "there are no quality backup Point-Guards left" territory, once Malcolm Brogdon is gone (and he's largely washed and perpetually injured). Again, if you can name candidates, I am open to listening, but the choices are extremely rough. Maybe there is some option with the TPE/TPMLE, but I am just not seeing it.

3. That is why I am comfortable offering him the TPMLE with a Player-Option as an incentive to bring him here. If he can get it elsewhere, then he may go for it, but you can't really control that; can always pivot to the remaining. Second Apron teams lose the TPMLE, so they would be out of the pool. Non-taxpaying teams obviously don't get a TPMLE (though they could use a partial MLE). I think the pool of teams giving him the same offer are low/non-existant, but at this stage of his career, he might just prefer other options over taking money.


The reality I see is that the remaining options largely suck, the ones who are barely backup caliber will want significant minutes when they are already lower-impact than Mike Conley and would interfere with Rob Dillingham's minutes, and this is the one pathway to getting an actual starting caliber Point-Guard heading into the Playoffs. I would love to hear realistic names left on the board (particularly with the assumption that Malcolm Brogdon is off of the board), but the remaining free-agents are all worse than Mike Conley and there aren't players making under the TPMLE that Minnesota can realistically trade for.

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

Will Randle’s trade value ever be any higher? He’s coming off his best post season ever(okc series notwithstanding) will turn 31 in November and signed on reasonable contract.Wolves should sell high. If he reverts to previous post season play that will be horrible for the wolves.
Also there are many teams who really need someone like him (that are trying to win now) like Detriot, possibly Memphis, Miami and LA clippers. Wolve have Naz ready to start at PF and Jaden can play there as well when Tj slides to SF. If wolves can get some younger pieces and picks they should move him.

[winforlose]

Here is how I see it with those three points.

1. We are not converting Rocco next season. Ignoring that though, First and Second Apron teams are not able to sign players in the buyout market who have contracts that exceed the non-taxpayer MLE. Maybe you can identify someone, but it is extraordinarily unlikely that there is a miracle player making less than the MLE that a team is going to buy-out prior to the deadline near the end of the season; that strategy (which was always prety overrated) is mostly dead. Additionally, Minnesota HAS to sign at least one more player to reach the fourteen player minimum, going into the season. You can't go into seasons with thirteen players anymore, with the new CBA. Yes, the new CBA is dumb and overly restrictive.

2. There are no players left on the market who are going to start over Mike Conley. Unfortunately, there just aren't any starting-caliber Point-Guards left, we are quickly entering "there are no quality backup Point-Guards left" territory, once Malcolm Brogdon is gone (and he's largely washed and perpetually injured). Again, if you can name candidates, I am open to listening, but the choices are extremely rough. Maybe there is some option with the TPE/TPMLE, but I am just not seeing it.

3. That is why I am comfortable offering him the TPMLE with a Player-Option as an incentive to bring him here. If he can get it elsewhere, then he may go for it, but you can't really control that; can always pivot to the remaining. Second Apron teams lose the TPMLE, so they would be out of the pool. Non-taxpaying teams obviously don't get a TPMLE (though they could use a partial MLE). I think the pool of teams giving him the same offer are low/non-existant, but at this stage of his career, he might just prefer other options over taking money.


The reality I see is that the remaining options largely suck, the ones who are barely backup caliber will want significant minutes when they are already lower-impact than Mike Conley and would interfere with Rob Dillingham's minutes, and this is the one pathway to getting an actual starting caliber Point-Guard heading into the Playoffs. I would love to hear realistic names left on the board (particularly with the assumption that Malcolm Brogdon is off of the board), but the remaining free-agents are all worse than Mike Conley and there aren't players making under the TPMLE that Minnesota can realistically trade for.

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

Will Randle’s trade value ever be any higher? He’s coming off his best post season ever(okc series notwithstanding) will turn 31 in November and signed on reasonable contract.Wolves should sell high. If he reverts to previous post season play that will be horrible for the wolves.
Also there are many teams who really need someone like him (that are trying to win now) like Detriot, possibly Memphis, Miami and LA clippers. Wolve have Naz ready to start at PF and Jaden can play there as well when Tj slides to SF. If wolves can get some younger pieces and picks they should move him.

This ^, plus, Randle had a down year after his last contract year. I see it being more likely than not he regresses and as you said above, his value will lower.

[ILC]

What is the pick situation for people way smarter than me?

Can we trade ANY 1sts, swaps, anything?

I'm at a point where unless we can get Dame for the minimum or trade all of our current PGs plus picks(?) for Derrick White just keep the continuity going. I really believe with internal development, chemistry carrying over from last year and that familiarity we will hit the ground running very quickly. We can (and will be IMO) a top 4 team from the start.

Then let's see how other teams do during the season. If Boston struggles without Tatum and they .500 or something in January maybe they are more open to moving White?

Hopefully Rob can show something to at least be an enticing trade piece in the winter if not a legit rotation guy.

[Domejandro]

What is the pick situation for people way smarter than me?

Can we trade ANY 1sts, swaps, anything?

I'm at a point where unless we can get Dame for the minimum or trade all of our current PGs plus picks(?) for Derrick White just keep the continuity going. I really believe with internal development, chemistry carrying over from last year and that familiarity we will hit the ground running very quickly. We can (and will be IMO) a top 4 team from the start.

Then let's see how other teams do during the season. If Boston struggles without Tatum and they .500 or something in January maybe they are more open to moving White?

Hopefully Rob can show something to at least be an enticing trade piece in the winter if not a legit rotation guy.

Minnesota can trade their 2029 FRP 6-30 protected (Utah owns it 1-5 protected).

Otherwise, Minnesota has no firsts to trade. They are able to trade all of their swaps again, though the existing obligations would obviously still be maintained (ex: The 2026 FRP would the “team x can swap their pick for the worse between Utah and Minnesota.”

[Calinks]

I may be one of the few peoples here not worry about the PG thing. Rob will definitely improved (which limit?) and Mike will be better than last year. I think our success depends more on ANT keep improving and limiting his turnover, Jaden being consistent at 18PPG par game and NAZ improving in defense. Randle will be Randle and Rudy will still be strong. We are also not safe to have a huge surprise with TSJ or Clark.

Don't know about that one. As Charles Barkley would say, old people don't get better, they get older.

[Nick K]

If I had to choose between adding a PG or a C, I think I'm leaning C, simply because I don't want to throw in the two rookies before they are ready. We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court. I will say though, if both Zikarsky and Edwards are on two-ways, going guard might be more likely.

I agree! We have no center depth.

[Note30]

I may be one of the few peoples here not worry about the PG thing. Rob will definitely improved (which limit?) and Mike will be better than last year. I think our success depends more on ANT keep improving and limiting his turnover, Jaden being consistent at 18PPG par game and NAZ improving in defense. Randle will be Randle and Rudy will still be strong. We are also not safe to have a huge surprise with TSJ or Clark.

You have a lot of faith in a second year player who didn't show any signs of improvement over the year.

Jaden has never averaged 18ppg, that's what people said about him after we traded Karl that he'd magically get better offensively. He's consistently averaged 12 pts a game, he's unlikely to have a massive swing barring an injury to Ant or Randle.

TSJ/Clark might see a drastic improvement and they'll be forced into having more minutes.

I expect this to be, without any significant roster changes or additions a slightly more challenging year than last year.

This is effectively the same team as last year just without NAW.

[NebWolvesFan]

I do wonder if Minnesota is waiting on Cole Anthony. He's a good fit with his ties to Lloyd and the team's need for a ballhandler off the bench who can also start in a pinch. He's also in Ant/Jaden's class so he fits the time line. He's still with the Grizzlies, but needs to be waived and stretched by July 6 so JJJ can sign his new deal.

Wolfson mentioned him first on his scoops. Makes a lot of sense. He could get 4 million a year from Memphis and five million from us. 9 million a year for a 8th or 9th man makes sense this year.

[Nick K]

We have enough guards on the team who can dribble the ball up the court.

If that was the only thing a half decent PG could provide, I'd agree with you - But there's a lot more to PG play than just "dribble the ball up the court"

I think Dillingham will surprise a lot of people next year. Honestly, watching back some of his highlights, I had forgotten how many of his most memorable plays came in big moments against good defenders on good teams. In January and February, he looked really solid. Of course he wasn't perfect, no one is.

Conley is Conley. I don't really think we have to worry about him, even if the upside is no longer high.

After that, while not technically PGs, guys like Ant, Donte and Julius can absolutely initiate offense if called upon.

I agree again. Dilly brings speed off the dribble like we have rarely seen here. He is working very hard at fixing his shot mechanics and has made real progress there. He still reverts a little in game situations but it's coming.

If he can do that and improve finishing at the basket people will love this guy. He should be a much better player this year.

[Nick K]

I have no idea who is still out there. But my suspicion is that we move Randle in the next 30 days. We get ourselves the PG of the future, and make Dilly the backup. We use the TPMLE to backfill whoever we send out. If not, I would choose not to use it. Use it and we hard capped. Don’t use it, and we keep our flexibility.

I am operating with the presumption that Julius Randle is not being traded within the next month, because I do not see a real scenario where Minnesota extends him just to immediately ship him off. If it happens, I'll totally eat crow, but I just don't see it. Every post of mine is assuming that Minnesota's roster is as-is.

I don't see it either. If he does get moved it would be at the trade deadline but I don't expect that either. He's a bad fit here and it's coach Finch's job to fix that. Randle is a very poor defender and makes bad decisions on the floor. Not an easy fix for Finchy.

[Danimals]

Maybe we can sign a vet min center and point guard. Even better if we can get them non-guaranteed to maintain more flexibility for later in the year. Probably looking at guys who made the minimum last year. Delon Wright and DeAndre Jordan?