The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the 2026-2027 NBA season with a fresh look and some new faces. Over the off-season, they shipped out budding co-star Julius Randle to Brooklyn. Then they resigned Ayo Dosumu to a five-year $112 million contract and Jaylen Clark for a three-years $10 million contract. The biggest move Minnesota made, though, was trading long time Minnesota favorite Naz Reid for LaMelo Ball.
Pairing Anthony Edwards and Ball was very intriguing. Edwards was only previously surrounded by a co-star big man with Towns and Randle. Only having to give up Reid and some draft consideration far in the future felt like a steal, but many were skeptical. Ball is coming off playing 72 games averaging 20.1 points per game, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds on some less than stellar shooting splits.
Some other additions include signing Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Lyles and Cody Williams. The Wolves looked to improve on last year’s 49-33 record where they fell in round two to San Antonio, preventing them from reaching a third straight Western Conference Finals. The dominant defensive core of Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels was back and hungry.
The Ant and LaMelo show started out hot, blowing out the Heat in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut while also dominating Orlando and Toronto. Just three games in, it looked like Minnesota was the team to beat. On a trip to Cleveland, the Wolves narrowly lost in overtime despite a 47- point performance from Edwards.
After the game, it would be announced that Edwards was undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. This would put him out for two months. Edwards had been limited to 61 games last year with knee pain. Timberwolves general manager Tim Connelly told the media: “We’re just concerned about his long-term health. We want to make sure we’re putting him in the best position he can be so he can be the best version he’s going to be for a long time.”
Filling Anthony Edwards’ production is a tall task; he was averaging 33.3 points a night to start the year. The Wolves guard depth of Ayo Dosunmu, Terrance Shannon Jr. and Bones Hyland was ready to step up. The first game without Edwards was a rocky one — a loss to Golden State with Kuminga leading the team in scoring.
There was tension on the bench between Ball and Gobert. Ball was seen frustrated with Gobert after Gobert put up one point and four rebounds. This was not the first glimpse of frustration. In the overtime loss to Cleveland, in a closing crucial moment, Gobert stopped attempting to grab a rebound. Edwards and Ball were visibly upset with Gobert after the moment.
A dominant win over the Clippers, a loss to the Spurs, where Victor Wembanyama put up 43 points and six blocks and a win over the Bucks placed the Wolves at 5-3, certainly staying afloat without their star. A trip to Houston to play the 7-1 Rockets would prove a challenging task. The Wolves would pull through with a great all-around win. Six players scored double figures, with Hyland providing 19 points off the bench.
Most notability, the game capped of with a Ball lob to Gobert in transition, showing that the good vibes are back. A win over New Orleans and then Utah kicked off eight straight games at home, also being their 4th straight win.
The Wolves hold an 11.1-point differential per game, only behind San Antonio and Boston. Dosumu has shined in the absence of Edwards, and has led the team in scoring against Utah, New Orleans, Houston and San Antonio. Dosumu has combinedthis streak with four assists per game and has shot 46.7% from the three-point line.
Gobert is holding down the paint as usual; the Wolves have the No. 1 defensive rating at 105.1. Gobert is bringing down 12.1 rebounds a game, good for 4th in the league. McDaniels is having his best scoring season to date.
He is averaging 17 points a night while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, all while having the toughest matchup each night.
Ball is holding strong with 18.3 points per game, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals a night.
With Edwards potentially returning before the new year, if the Wolves can keep this up against contenders, it could be the beginning of an all-time year in Timberwolves history.
The Timberwolves stand at 8-3 ahead of Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks coming to town Thursday night.