New Wolves owners face big decisions on free agents and draft
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Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are finally the controlling owners of the Wolves. Photo: David Berding/Getty Images
A new era in Timberwolves basketball begins this week, and Wednesday night's draft marks the start of a fast and furious first week.
The big picture: The first order of business for new owners Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore and their hand-picked president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, is whether they want to keep the core of last year's Western Conference Finals team intact, or shake things up with another big trade.
Why it matters: Fans liked watching the Wolves reach the conference finals two years in a row, but they'd love to see the team win the first local professional men's championship since 1991 — and this team has the superstar capable of doing it.
Yes, but: That star, Anthony Edwards, could use another dynamic playmaker next to him in the backcourt. That's where the front office might be tempted to swing a trade for a player like Darius Garland from Cleveland or De'Aaron Fox from San Antonio.
What we're watching: If the Wolves don't make a big trade like that, it could signal they have confidence that two second-year players — point guard Rob Dillingham and wing Terrence Shannon Jr. — are ready to take on those playmaking duties.
- Forgoing an expensive player swap would also allow them the financial flexibility to bring back both Julius Randle and Naz Reid before free agency begins on Monday.
Between the lines: All of this planning hinges on whether A-Rod and Lore are, as Lore has said, willing to open their pocketbooks.
- Last year's team racked up a $90.4 million luxury tax bill in order to offer players salaries that exceeded the NBA's salary cap. Keeping a title-contending roster will cost a similar amount next season.
- Any sizable pullback in spending is sure to create angst among a long-suffering fanbase that's gotten whiffs of a title the last two years.
What's next: The first hint at their plan could be revealed at the draft, where the Wolves have the 17th and 31st picks.
- They could swing a trade Wednesday night or stay put and use the selections to build a pipeline that allows them to compete for several years of Edwards' prime.