Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves kick off the pre-season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. How will the new-look Wolves sans Karl-Anthony Towns look their first time out on the floor?
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: October 4th, 2024
Time: 9:30PM 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 court after a heartbreaking Western Conference Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Wolves Nation was still buzzing from winning their first playoff series in 20 years and making their deepest run in franchise history, but there was a sense of disappointment too. This team had the talent to make the 2024 NBA Finals, and falling short stung.
For months, we all assumed the Wolves would “run it back.” The roster was stacked. There were no major rumors. It seemed like the Wolves were going to take another shot at the title with their core intact. But then, Tim Connelly decided to drop a bomb on the Great North, sending nine-year vet and four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop, and a heavily protected first-round pick from Detroit. Yeah, it’s safe to say that this year’s Timberwolves aren’t going to be a carbon copy of last year’s team.
This isn’t just a roster tweak. This is a whole new dynamic. Anthony Edwards is now unequivocally the alpha dog, no debate. Last season, we saw him gradually take the reins from Towns, but now it’s unquestionably his team. Edwards is the present and future of the Timberwolves, the franchise cornerstone they’re building around.
He’ll still have his veteran crew around him—Mike Conley Jr., Rudy Gobert, and emerging stars like Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. But the void left by KAT is massive, and it’s going to be up to Julius Randle to fill that hole in the paint, both with his size and scoring ability. And Donte DiVincenzo? He’s going to be critical for spacing the floor with his long-range shooting.
The Wolves kick off their preseason against the Lakers in LA, the same team they will face in the season opener on October 22nd. Now, let’s be real—it’s a preseason game. We’re not going to see the full scope of what this team will look like. How much run will the starters get before Chris Finch shifts focus to the bench and younger guys? It’s anyone’s guess.
But, for me, the number one thing I’m pumped about is seeing Rob Dillingham make his NBA debut. The kid showed flashes during the Las Vegas Summer League, but now he’s going to be playing against NBA talent. How will he handle it? Will he carve out a role as a spark plug off the bench?
I’m also eager to see Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in Wolves uniforms for the first time. Will they start clicking with their new teammates right away, or will it take some time to find chemistry? Of course, this is assuming that they even play, 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’m eager to get any glimpse of how these new pieces will fit into the Wolves’ rotation.
Let’s face it—the Wolves are a bit of an enigma right now. This roster overhaul just happened, and it’s going to take Chris Finch some time to figure out the rotations and play style. But the excitement is back. Timberwolves basketball is back. And while we might not know exactly how this season will unfold, the anticipation is real. Could this be the greatest season in franchise history?
It’s time to find out.