Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: October 4, 2024
Time: 9:30 PM CDT
Location: Acrisure Arena
Television coverage: NBA TV

After what felt like an eternity, Minnesota Timberwolves basketball is finally back. The last time we saw this team, they were walking off the field after a heartbreaking Western Conference Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Wolves Nation was still buzzing from winning their first playoff series in two decades and making their deepest run in franchise history, but there was also a sense of disappointment. This team had the talent to make the 2024 NBA Finals, but fell short.

For months we all assumed the Wolves would ‘run it back’. The grid was stacked. There were no big rumors. It looked like the Wolves would have another shot at the title with their core intact. But then Tim Connelly decided to drop a bomb on the Great North, leaving a nine-year vet and four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diopand a heavily protected first-round pick from Detroit. Yes, it’s safe to say that this year’s Timberwolves won’t be a carbon copy of last year’s team.

This is not just a schedule adjustment. This is a whole new dynamic. Anthony Edwards is now unequivocally the alpha dog, no debate. Last season we saw him gradually take over from Towns, but now it’s hands down his team. Edwards is the present and future of the Timberwolves, the cornerstone of the franchise they build around.

He will still have his experienced crew around him…Mike Conley Jr., Rudy Gobertand rising stars such as Jaden McDaniels, Naz ReidAnd Nickeil Alexander-Walker. But the void KAT leaves behind is enormous, and it will continue to be so Julius Randle to fill that hole in the paint, both with his size and his scoring ability. And Donte DiVincenzo? His floor spacing and long-range shooting will be crucial.

The Wolves kick off their preseason against the Lakers in LA, the same team they will face in the season opener on October 22. Let’s face it: it’s a preseason game. We’re not going to see the full scope of what this team will look like. How many points will the starters get before Chris Finch shifts focus to the bench and younger guys? It’s anyone’s guess.

But for me, the main thing I’m excited about is seeing Rob Dillingham make his NBA debut. The kid showed flashes during the Las Vegas Summer League, but now he’ll be playing against NBA talent. How will he handle it? Will he take on a spark plug role off the bench?

I’m curious to see too Julius Randle And Donte DiVincenzo in Wolves uniforms for the first time. Will they immediately connect with their new teammates, or will it take some time for them to find chemistry? Of course, this assumes they play at all, given their lack of practice time with the team. Randle is still questionable for this game after offseason shoulder surgery, so it’s possible we won’t see him at all. I’d like to get a glimpse of how these new pieces will fit into the Wolves’ rotation.

Let’s face it: the Wolves are a bit of an enigma at the moment. This roster overhaul just happened and it will take Chris Finch some time to figure out the rotations and playing style. But the excitement is back. Timberwolves basketball is back. And while we may not know exactly how this season will unfold, expectations are real. Could this be the best season in franchise history?

It’s time to find out.