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EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
NBA Offseason Guide 2022: The Minnesota Timberwolves have big extension decisions this summer
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11:51 PM ET
Bobby Marks
Looking at the big picture, the 2021-22 season was a success for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They won multiple playoff games for the first time since 2004 and their 46 regular-season wins were their second-most in the past 17 seasons.
The short-term outlook, however, will view the first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies as a missed opportunity. The second-youngest team in the playoffs lost three games it led by double-digit points in the fourth quarter.
While we can chalk that up to inexperience, history has shown that there is no guarantee that Minnesota will be in position to advance to the second round in the future. The nucleus of this roster returns but so does a Western Conference that projects to be the strongest in recent years.
MORE: Timberwolves rank 15th in Future Power Rankings
State of the roster
Roster status: Playoffs but beware of a deep Western Conference
The 41 games that Chris Finch coached last season should have been an indicator for the 2021-22 campaign.
Finch was hired in February 2021, and the Timberwolves went 16-25 during that stretch of games, including a 9-7 record to finish the season. In the last 16 games they ranked eighth in offensive efficiency.
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The question heading into this past season was whether the small amount of success was fool's gold or a sign of a team that got healthy and bought into Finch's system. The Timberwolves were returning 12 players from 2020-21, did not have a first-round pick and were pressed up against the luxury tax. Their big offseason deal was trading for veterans Patrick Beverley and Taurean Prince, along with re-signing Jarred Vanderbilt.
Those transactions -- along with a healthy Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell, the continued development of Anthony Edwards and a clear identity on both sides of the ball -- helped Minnesota double its win total from the prior season.
This season is the first time the Timberwolves ranked in the top half of the league in both offensive (No. 7) and defensive efficiency (No. 11) since 2013-14. They also ranked No. 1 in points off turnovers (19.8), pace and 3-point makes and attempts.
The Timberwolves once again will have to rely on continued development within and team continuity this offseason if they want to take that next step.
Per ESPN Stats & Information, the lineup of Beverley, Edwards, Vanderbilt, Russell and Towns outscored opponents by 107 points when on the floor together. That is the sixth-best among all five-man groups.
Although they have their first-round pick in June, the Timberwolves have 11 players under contract and are over the salary cap. They do have their $10.3 million midlevel exception available to use in free agency and over $50 million of expiring contracts to explore the trade market.
The first big decision ownership will encounter is the future of Sachin Gupta, who was thrust into the lead role of head of basketball operations before the start of the season. Now ownership will need to decide who is in charge. In the eight months since taking over, Gupta did not make a roster addition (Beverley was signed to an extension) but brought stability to the basketball department.
Karl-Anthony Towns
The combination of injuries, a lack of stability at head coach and the Timberwolves' poor play had made Towns the forgotten All-Star.
He averaged a career high 26.5 points in 2019-20 and then 24.8 points in 2020-21, but Towns played in only 85 games combined and the Timberwolves' record was 42-94. There was also a coaching change last February, the fifth head coach in Towns' first six seasons.
"There were just a lot of circumstances that made Minnesota more of a reality show than a basketball team," Towns told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
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Grizzlies at Wolves, Game 6 (9 p.m.)
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This season, Towns garnered more attention not just because of his overall play, but his durability in staying on the court. More importantly, the Timberwolves were winning.
He joined Kevin Durant as only the player to average 20 points, 50% shooting and 40% on 3-pointers in four seasons.
"I've worked with some really high-level players, and to me KAT's the most skilled player that I think I've ever worked with," says Finch, who has coached Yao Ming with the Houston Rockets and Nikola Jokic with the Denver Nuggets. "He literally can score from all ranges. He can pass. He's got post moves. He's got step-back 3s. He can take people off the dribble. He's got unbelievable touches. He's running to the rim off one leg. Our nickname for him is Cheat Code." Towns was named to the All-Star team in February (the first time since 2019) and could be in line to see his name on the All-NBA ballot in May.
It is no coincidence that the last time Towns earned All-NBA honors was in 2018, the last year Minnesota reached the playoffs before 2022.
All-NBA honors could represent a financial windfall for Towns. Because he is set to reach seven years of service in July, Towns is eligible to sign a four-year, $210.9 million supermax extension if his name is on any of the three teams.
2024-25 | $47.1M
2025-26 | $50.8M
2026-27 | $54.6M
2027-28 | $58.4M
A $47.1 million cap hit in 2024-25 is significant but Minnesota is set to have cap flexibility in the 2023 offseason to retool the roster before the supermax extension of Towns and likely rookie extension of Anthony Edwards is set to begin.
In the scenario that he is not named All-NBA, Towns is extension eligible but for significantly less money: three years and $130.7 million total.
Towns would have to weigh the option of guaranteed money now versus waiting until the 2023 offseason, when he could be eligible to sign a five-year, $273 million supermax extension if he is named All-NBA in 2022-23.
D'Angelo Russell
Russell's tenure to date in Minnesota is best described as unfinished.
Russell dealt with injuries in his first two seasons and because of the small sample on the court, it was hard for the front office to analyze his fit. He and Towns had a net rating of plus-2.1 per 100 possessions but played only 461 minutes prior to this season.
This season, Russell finished with the third-highest games played in his career and showed that the partnership with Towns works when both are on the court for an extended period of time. The Timberwolves were plus-7.1 points per 100 possessions when both Towns and Russell were on the court.
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Russell also finished the season averaging 7.1 assists, the most in his career. Per ESPN Stats & Information, he is one of three players (Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Paul) to average at least seven assists and 2.5 or fewer turnovers.
Now entering the offseason, Russell is extension eligible, and Minnesota has a decision to make. Minnesota can sign him up to a four-year extension contract that begins in 2023-24 or preserve cap flexibility in the 2023 offseason. The Timberwolves have $80 million in salary in 2023 and a small window to use room before a new contract for Towns and Anthony Edwards kicks in.
The decision with Russell this offseason will be an indicator if the Timberwolves are willing to lock up the former All-Star to a long-term contract or if there is a desire to look to add free agents in 2023.
Offseason cap breakdown
Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-23 Salary Breakdown
PLAYER CAP CHARGE
1. Karl-Anthony Towns $33,833,400
2. D'Angelo Russell $31,337,750
3. Malik Beasley $15,558,035
4. Patrick Beverley $13,000,000
5. Anthony Edwards $10,733,400
6. Jarred Vanderbilt $4,320,000
7. Jaden McDaniels $3,161,440
8. Leandro Bolmaro $2,471,160
9. Jordan McLaughlin $2,160,000
10. Naz Reid $1,930,681 (team option)
11. Jaylen Nowell $1,930,681 (team option)
12. Taurean Prince1 $20,000,000 (free agent hold)
13. Josh Okogie2 $12,263,712 (free agent hold)
14. Jake Layman1 $7,486,352 (free agent hold)
15. McKinley Wright IV3 $1,616,044 (free agent hold)
16. Nathan Knight3 $1,616,044 (free agent hold)
17. First-rounder $3,006,840 (first round hold)
Guaranteed salary $119.6M*
Non-guaranteed $3.9M
Free-agent hold $46.5M
Total salaries on cap $170M
2022-23 NBA SALARY CAP $122M
2022-23 NBA LUXURY TAX LINE $147M
1. Bird
2. Restricted Bird
3. Restricted Non Bird
*Note: guaranteed salary includes cap hold for first-round pick
Minnesota Timberwolves Depth Chart
PG SG SF PF C
D. Russell P. Beverley A. Edwards J. Vanderbilt K. Towns
J. McLaughlin M. Beasley J. NowellT J. McDaniels N. ReidT
L. Bolmaro
T=Team Option
Team needs
Depth at small and power forward
Resources to build the roster
The draft: four selections
Future first-round picks
Exceptions: $10.3M midlevel, $4.1M biannual and $4.8M trade
$50M of expiring contracts
Cash: $6.3M to send or receive in a trade
Dates to watch
JUNE 29: Jaylen Nowell and Naz Reid both have a $1.9 million team option. While it seems like a no-brainer to pick them up considering their below-average salary, picking up the option would see both players become unrestricted free agents in 2023. If the options are declined, Minnesota would tender both players a $2.2 million qualifying offer by June 29, making them restricted free agents this summer. The downside to that move is that both currently have a $2 million cap hold in 2023 and the Timberwolves could lose significant cap flexibility. The two players are also extension eligible (more on that below) if the option is exercised.
JUNE 29: Former first-round pick Josh Okogie failed to reach starter criteria (41 starts or 2,000 minutes) and will see his qualifying offer drop from $7.9 million to $5.9 million. Okogie saw his minutes sliced in half this season (20.3 to 10.5) and has played sparingly since the All-Star break. Two-way players McKinley Wright IV ($50K) and Nathan Knight ($50K) are also eligible to receive a qualifying offer.
Restrictions
Reid and Nowell cannot be traded until their team option is exercised.
Karl-Anthony Towns has a 15% trade bonus. The bonus is valued at $5 million if Towns is traded.
Extension-eligible
The minutes and points of Jaylen Nowell have taken a slight drop from last year but the guard had his most efficient season shooting the ball since he was drafted in 2019. Nowell had an effective field goal rate of 54.9% and true shooting of 57.6%. In 2020-21, those numbers were at 49.9% and 52.8%. In 41 games as part of the rotation, Nowell averaged 10.8 points and shot 49.1% from the field. Since the All-Star break, he shot 40.4% from 3. If the team option in his contract is exercised, the Timberwolves can extend him for an additional four seasons and up to $58 million.
Naz Reid continues to be one of the more reliable big men off the bench. In his three seasons, the undrafted Reid has averaged 9.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.3 minutes. If his option is exercised and the contract eventually guaranteed, Minnesota can extend him for an additional four seasons and up to $58 million.
The draft
Minnesota has four draft selections in June, including a first and three seconds. They own their first in all future years.
Here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have Minnesota selecting in June:
No. 19 (own): Nikola Jovic, Mega Mozzart, SF
Of all the international prospects in this draft, Jovic has the most seamless NBA fit as a modern forward who can shoot, handle and pass. Every bit of 6-10 with an improved 215-pound frame and a 7-0 wingspan, Jovic's measurements are similar to forwards ranging from Michael Porter Jr. to Kevin Knox to Sam Dekker to Darius Bazley. With the size to function as a four once his body matures, the late-blooming Jovic looks the part of a legitimate NBA floor-spacer with the shooting stroke to back it up, as he's now up to 40% from the international line through 14 games, often earning comparisons to Nemanja Bjelica (drafted No. 35 in 2010) in the process. -- Schmitz
No. 40 (via WAS): Justin Lewis, Marquette, SF/PF
Lewis is still very much learning when to take spot-up 3s versus when to attack off the bounce, as he tends to rely on out-of-rhythm jumpers or forced drives to the rim, where he's more strong and powerful than quick and explosive. Lewis' lack of elite burst showed on downhill attacks against the Tar Heels, and he missed a few bunnies in traffic (0-for-8 from 2), bringing his finishing percentage to 47.1%, which ranks 198th out of 203 players in the NCAA to take over 120 shots at the rim in the half court. -- Schmitz
No. 48 (via CHI): Keon Ellis, Alabama, SG/SF
A junior college transfer who played a minor role last season, Ellis has emerged as a draftable option as a senior at Alabama, converting 36% of his 3-pointers while guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. Looking the part of an NBA wing physically with his long arms and solid frame, he brings great energy on the glass, gets in passing lanes frequently, fills lanes effectively in transition and is an efficient scorer who does a lot of little things to impact winning. Ellis has been streaky with his shooting against better competition this season, and scouts will want to get a better feel for his ballhandling and decision-making, which has looked questionable at times. - Givony
No. 51 (via DEN): Jalen Williams, Santa Clara, SF
Williams is a late bloomer in the truest sense of the term. The Phoenix native stood no taller than 5-11 his junior year of high school before ultimately sprouting to 6-3, 180 pounds as a senior, eventually signing with Santa Clara as the Broncos staff coveted his feel, skill level and physical upside as a combo guard. He shot up to 6-5 and functioned with energy on the wing during his freshman season, eventually catching our eye at the WCC tournament in 2020 while looking like a potential three-and-done prospect given his combination of defense, passing feel and shooting potential. -- Schmitz
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