In the Western Conference, there is no shortage of talent. In the last 12 months, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets all added high-level talent. And yet, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the ones that made the Conference Finals.
This offseason, the Wolves lost Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but they managed to ink Naz Reid to a long-term deal and drafted Joan Beringer 17th overall. With a healthy lineup and the ascending Anthony Edwards, it’s hard to count them out.
Jeff Teague may have spent parts of three seasons on the Timberwolves, but as a podcaster and analyst, he has become one of the more honest voices in the league. It should be telling that he’s picked the Wolves to make some noise.
GettyMike Conley and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate a basket against the Golden State Warriors.
Minnesota Timberwolves Expected to Remain Elite
In the last two seasons, the Timberwolves have made back-to-back Conference Finals appearances, but they have yet to punch their ticket to the Finals. Ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, they are expected to earn home-court advantage, even in a crowded Western Conference.
“OKC, Nuggets two, then I got a surprise for you,” predicted Teague on his Club520 podcast. It’s a little weird, I ain’t going with the Rockets, I’m going with the T-Wolves three, and then I’m gonna take the Warriors at four.
With one of the best team defenses in the league, solid depth, and a legitimate MVP candidate in Anthony Edwards, the Wolves are overlooked after a fairly quiet offseason.
Minnesota finished sixth in the regular season last year, although it spent much of the year reeling from the Karl-Anthony Towns trade and trying to integrate Julius Randle into the lineup.
With a full season under their belt, they are expected to take the leap.
“I think they all would be more comfortable,” Teague added. “They know their roles, and now some of those roles are gonna expand. With losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Donte [DiVincenzo] will play more, Rob Dillingham will get more time because he is in his second year, Mike Conley won’t play as much, but he’s still there. AE, he’s gonna be in the MVP race this year.”
Wolves Overlooked For Second Straight Season
After trading Towns, the Wolves were expected to take a step back, and they did, at least for the regular season.
In the playoffs, they found their footing, eliminating the Lakers and Warriors. They fell to the Thunder in only five games, although it was clear that Edwards had taken a leap and was quickly becoming the face of the entire league.
With roles and expectations outlined, the Timberwolves will enjoy some continuity.
“I just think Anthony Edwards, we didn’t expect much from him last year with the trade, but now that they’ve solidified their roles that they all play, and they have had a year under their belt. I think they’re gonna be a better team,” Teague finished.
The Lakers need to integrate Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton. The Nuggets need to get used to Cameron Johnson. The Rockets will be without Fred VanVleet and need to find out who the team belongs to. The Warriors and Timberwolves have already answered all of those questions, and they could be quiet contenders all season.
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