The Minnesota Timberwolves will be one of the NBA’s most expensive teams this season. With Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards on max contracts, Rudy Gobert near the max contract and Jaden McDaniels embarking on a five-year contract extension, Minnesota is treading in uncharted territory when it comes to team payroll and luxury tax.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said developing the team’s young players will be more important than ever, and he said rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. should be key pieces for the Timberwolves.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the younger guys, but I’m going to put a lot of pressure on them. Obviously, they have to prove they deserve the minutes, but we’re a pretty expensive team now so we’ve got to find some space for the younger guys,” Connelly said. “I know it’s not always going to work out, but the most important thing is they buy into the team.” [Wolves head coach Chris Finch] … We don’t expect perfection, just a commitment to doing things our way.”
Minnesota entered the lottery to select Dillingham with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Shannon was selected 27th in the first round.
Dillingham is expected to be the Timberwolves’ point guard of the future and will see playing time this season as Mike Conley’s backup, while Shannon will add depth on the wing behind Edwards and McDaniels.
