On Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves 2025-26 season came to an emphatic end with a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 by a score of 139-109. The loss means the Wolves are one of 10 teams to never win an NBA championship.
Still, the Timberwolves aren't far off after reaching the conference finals the past two seasons and facing serious resistance against a team with the second-best record in the league. Still, if Minnesota wants to make a more serious run at its first title next season, changes must come this off-season.
They have a superstar scorer in Anthony Edwards, and a ton of front-court depth they could use in a trade to land another elite scorer or impressive veteran at point guard. With that in mind, we're taking a look at eight stars the team needs to succeed this summer.
junior holiday
Mike Conley has been a good veteran for the last four seasons. However, at 38, his best days are well behind him, and he may retire this summer. Additionally, Ayo Dosunmu improved his free agent value with a strong postseason performance.
That's why Jrue Holiday should be a target this offseason. Yes, he's overpaid, but he's a winner, and surprisingly, he played a key leadership role in getting the Portland Trail Blazers back to the postseason this year. With Damian Lillard returning next season, he will be the unique guy. Both teams could consider swapping him for Rudy Gobert this summer.
giannis antetokounmpo
After dealing with them in February, you can bet the Timberwolves will trade for Milwaukee Bucks veteran Giannis Antetokounmpo again this summer. The big question is, do they have the young players the Bucks will want?
If Milwaukee were to agree to take players like Gobert or Julius Randle in return, Minnesota would likely give up a hefty amount of draft picks to acquire the two-time MVP.
Fred VanVleet
Another possible option to get a veteran point guard would be Fred VanVleet. The 32-year-old has a player option he can exercise to sign a multi-year deal in the range of $15 million to $20 million annually. Like Holiday, the one-time All-Star is a winning player and could be a real difference maker leading Minnesota's offense next season. That's assuming he's fully recovered from his ACL tear last year.
kyrie irving
If the Timberwolves want to be a little adventurous, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving could be available. There have already been reports that the team will consider moving him next year because the deadline he wants to work with doesn't line up with franchise newcomer Cooper Flagg.
A package of Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo's expiring contract, and a future first-round pick should be enough to get a deal done for the 34-year-old who is recovering from an ACL injury last year.
Kevin Durant
There were rumors last season that the Timberwolves had made a strong bid for future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. However, no deal was reached and the Phoenix Suns traded him to the Houston Rockets. While it's unlikely Houston would move him, keeping a player close to retirement and trading Alpern Sengun would seem like bad business.
Wolves could make a great offer, and the combo of Edwards and his idol making the team for a season or two would be must-see television.
ja morant
One player who could be available at a reasonable rate would be two-time All-Star Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies star's value has hit an all-time low in recent years due to his injury problems and off-court drama. If the Timberwolves have trouble making big deals, Morant would be an interesting fallback option because if they can get him right, a Morant and Edwards combo would be awesome.
paul george
If Minnesota likes the idea of a player like Durant, but he is unavailable, a backup option would be another future HOFer in Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George. Has he passed his prime and is prone to injury? Yes. But when healthy, he is still an impact player who would be a good third option behind Edwards, and if they keep Randle.
Domantas Sabonis
Speaking of Randle, the front office may decide a divorce is in the best interests of both parties. One player with a similar contract and who also needs a change of scenery is Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis. The three-time All-Star offers a similar skill set and could fit well into Minnesota's system. The bigger issue is that he missed much of last season due to suffering a meniscus tear.
