Timberwolves 2025-26 season lineup analysis: Reinforcement is approaching the end

The most important operation of the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer has been settled. The team renewed Naz Reed and Julius Randle with a generous contract, basically retaining the core lineup framework of last season. The huge spending of

225 million US dollars means that the team can only sign minor repairs before the start of training camp - that's exactly the case. After signing a training camp contract with Johnny Zhuzang and reaching a two-way contract with Enrique Freeman, there is only one vacant place left in the lineup, and the management plans to strengthen the depth of the defender behind Mike Conley and Robert Dillingham.

According to alliance sources to The Athletic, the Timberwolves have visited several candidates including Malcolm Brogden, Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet. But all signs suggest that Bones Helan, who joined the team in February as a two-way contract, is most likely to win the final seat - he played briefly in Iowa and trained with the Timberwolves the rest of the time.

Hyland played four games for the Timberwolves last season, and he was selected with his first round pick as early as when he was currently the president of Timberwolves basketball operations, Tim Connelly, who was in Denver. Since August is usually the off-season for league trading, and training camps will not open until the end of September, the team has no urgent pressure to complete the signing immediately.

Considering that Conley is about to enter his contract year (and his 19th season of his career), Dillingham will start his second season in just 516 minutes of his rookie season, and with Nikil Alexander Walker turning to the Hawks, the Timberwolves have been seeking to strengthen the point guard depth.

However, the reinforcement of this position is quite difficult. The team is currently less than $6 million away from the second luxury tax line, and management hopes to avoid triggering severe lineup building penalties for the second consecutive season - these penalties will worsen year by year as the team passes the line.

If the luxury tax middle class special case is used to sign a non-base salary senior player, the team will directly contact the luxury tax red line, and there is little room left for future operation. Considering that Dillingham, the 2024 No. 8 pick, needs more playing time in the new season, this signing position cannot guarantee a stable chance of playing.

After signing Hailan without using a two-way contract, the Timberwolves will have 14 players. Keeping the last vacancy reserves maximum flexibility for future potential transactions. As the team is already close to the second luxury tax line, every dollar of expenses needs to be carefully calculated.

With six weeks left before training camp, let's look at the roster building of this team that has entered the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years:

Backball lineup

Point guards: Mike Conley, Robert Dillingham, Bones Helan, Tristan Newton (two-way contract)

Conley was barely unable to train basketball last summer due to wrist and ankle injuries, causing the veteran to be in a sluggish state at the beginning of the season. He stays healthy this summer, but will be 38 years old in the opening game and will likely require load management in the new season.

Dillingham has limited opportunities to play in the rookie season, and the 2025-26 season will become one of the most critical growth points of the lineup.

Divinceno briefly played as starting point guard last season and performed well, but later missed due to injury.

Hylan locker room is well integrated and performs outstandingly in Iowa.

Newton signed a qualification offer earlier this month. The 1.96-meter-tall defender only played three games last season, but his body advantage is worth examining again.

Scoring guards: Anthony Edwards, Divinchenzo, Jaylen Clark, Johnny Zhuzang

Edwards warned his teammates to train in Minnesota this summer as much as possible. He has appeared in the training hall many times to set an example.

Divincenzo originally planned to represent Italy in the European Championships that started at the end of this month, but chose to withdraw in order to ensure complete health before the training camp. The toe injury that caused the absence last season was fine, and according to team sources, the Timberwolves did not stop him from participating.

Clark quickly gained a foothold last season with his NBA-level defense, while also having a 43% three-point shooting percentage and mature offensive performance were surprising.

Zhu Zang is 2.01 meters tall but has doubts in defense. However, in 64 games last season, he played for the Jazz, three-point shooting percentage reached 37.6%. Although there is little hope for being selected for the final list, Luka Garza also successfully stayed in the team through training camp last year without being optimistic.

Frontline roster

Small forwards: Jaden McDaniels, Terence Shannon Jr., and Joe Ingles

McDaniels performed amazingly last season, making people look forward to the progress of his sixth year of his career

With Nikil Alexander Walker leaving the team, Shannon is expected to receive important rotation time in the new season, and his outstanding performance in the summer league is that he won the role of substitute scorer. Laying the foundation

Ingles has a significant role in locker room leadership last season, but it may not enter the regular rotation without injury in the new season

Power forwards: Julius Randle, Naz Reed, Leonard Miller, Enrique Freeman (two-way contract)

Randall performed well in the first two rounds of the Western Conference playoffs, but struggled in the Western Conference Finals with the Thunder - which is consistent with the overall performance of the team. The Timberwolves believe his second season in Minnesota will make a bigger contribution.

Reed rejected other teams' more important roles promised to stay, and he has become one of the team's iconic figures and one of the best substitutes in the league.

Miller's future is still unclear. He has not yet won a stable playing time, and he also has to face a well-paid deep inside rotation.

Freeman's performance of 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in the summer league, representing the Pacers, touched the Timberwolves management.

Center: Rudy Gobert, Joao Belange, Roko Zikaski (two-way contract)

Gobert chose not to participate in the European Championship, which is a good thing for his 13th season. His defense declined last season, and Carl Anthony Towns's trade greatly affected his tactical status - Towns was once the best player in the team to use Gobert's offensive ability. A tacit understanding with Randall and Divincenzo may help, avoiding international events is just as critical.

Berlange's potential makes the Timberwolves full of expectations, and the performance of the summer league strengthens this confidence. But the rookie, who turned 19 in November, still needs to be polished. Coach Chris Finch used inside rotations last season with Gobert, Randall and Reed, and this strategy may continue in the early stages of the new season.

The outstanding size of Zikasky will hone his skills in the Development League in the new season