Kyle Anderson’s second season in Minnesota was a tough one to define.
For one, Anderson’s numbers dropped considerably as he recovered from a major eye injury. He shot a horrendous 23 percent from 3-point range, and struggled so much that he practically stopped shooting them altogether. With Karl-Anthony Towns healthy at the start of the season, Anderson had to play more small forward than power forward, his natural position, and that hurt his effectiveness.
On the other hand, Timber Wolves Coach Chris Finch had complete faith in Anderson. The veteran’s basketball IQ, playmaking ability and ability to play and defend multiple positions were so important to Finch that he didn’t let his poor shooting shake his confidence in Anderson.
As he contemplated his future at the end of the season, Anderson was fully aware of both elements. He knew the Wolves’ payroll was about to skyrocket and that it would be difficult for the team to keep him on a new multiyear contract that would pay him close to the $9 million he made last season. Anderson also knew it might be difficult for him to find a coach who believed in him more than Finch did.
“A lot of coaches I’ve been around throughout my career sometimes don’t know how to use me or don’t know what to do with me,” Anderson said. “Throughout my time here, Finchy has put me in positions that have allowed me to be successful. He trusted me to make decisions, he trusted me to play my game and he allowed me to have the ball in my hands.”
When the The Timberwolves acquired the No. 8 overall pick Last week, San Antonio acquired Rob Dillingham, allowing them to add more than $20 million to their already bloated payroll. That’s their new life as a tax-paying team, with a payroll that will exceed the second tier of the league’s tax structure, meaning it will top out at $189 million. That severely limits the team’s options when it comes to adding talent.
The Wolves can currently spend whatever they want to retain their free agents, including Anderson, Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin. But every dollar spent comes with a tax that amounts to spending four times that amount. Owner Glen Taylor has been aggressive in giving president of basketball operations Tim Connelly the green light to do whatever it takes to improve a team that reached the Western Conference finals last season.
But Anderson knew then, and knows now, that the Timberwolves can only go so far to retain a player who turns 31 in September and is coming off the worst shooting season of his career.
Connelly and Finch have said they want Anderson back. But as the teams began negotiating with free agents Sunday night, it was clear the two sides were far apart, according to team and league sources. A reunion hasn’t been ruled out, but there were few signs of progress early on.
Anderson also said at the end of the season that he would like to return. His son is on the autism spectrum and Anderson said he has done well in suburban Minneapolis schools. But as the season wore on and free agency approached, there seemed to be less common ground between Anderson and the Wolves.
Anderson is one of the best free agent signings in Timberwolves history. He has been a vocal leader in the locker room and a do-it-all player on the court. If he leaves, Finch will no longer have one of his most trusted players to lean on. It could open up an even bigger offensive role for him. Naz Reid. Josh Minott and Leonard Miller I could see more than fragments of garbage in time. Terrence Shannon Jr.the Timberwolves’ other rookie could see more minutes on the wing.
Or maybe Anderson tests the market, sees fewer dollars than he expected and returns to a team and coach who values him. That’s not how it felt at the time. Day 1 of free agent discussionsbut things can change quickly in this league.
If Anderson leaves for another team, the Wolves will only be able to replace him on a veteran’s minimum contract. There will likely be a greater reliance on young players already in the system.
Wolves failed to reach an agreement on the first day of the transfer window, but now is a good time to take a look at their squad situation.
Guard point
Start: Mike Conley36 years old
Bank: Rob Dillingham, 19
The thin one: Conley signed a two-year contract extension in February, a deal that would likely take him through the end of his career. He’s an essential part of what the Timberwolves do, and his physical limitations in the Western Conference finals were one of the reasons the series ended so quickly.
Conley is still a starter in this league, but the Wolves need depth behind him. That’s one of the reasons they were so aggressive in signing Dillingham on the first night of the draft.
For all of Dillingham’s flashy, high-profile moments, Connelly made one thing abundantly clear after signing him: The Wolves view him as a point guard.
“It’s a 1,” Connelly said. “It’s a 1 that’s a bucket.”
Free Agent Outlook: Morris and McLaughlin were backup point guards last season. There are signs that McLaughlin is likely to end up elsewhere. The Wolves would like to bring Morris back to give them more veteran experience, but that also seems unlikely given his limited playing time in the playoffs and the addition of Dillingham in the draft.
Shooting guard
Start: Antonio Edwards22
Bank: Nickel Alexander-Walker25; Jaylen Clark22
The thin one: Edwards emerged as a legitimate superstar in his fourth season after playing with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. He now heads to Paris for the Olympic Gameswhich will surely give him even more strength when he returns for Year 5, a special number for him. Alexander-Walker made a name for himself last season as a top-tier perimeter defender. The next step for him is to be more consistent with his offense.
Clark did not play during his rookie season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and will play in the summer league. He will have a lot of rust to shake off, but he was considered a top college prospect before his injury at UCLA.
Free Agent Outlook: With Dillingham’s ability to play off the ball as well, the Wolves have plenty of versatility in the backcourt. need Another guard? No, but adding shooting never hurts. Delon Wright, a combo guard, could be worth a look if the market allows. Eric Gordon It would have been interesting, but he was caught by Philadelphia shortly after the market opened.
Small forward
Start: Jaden McDaniels23
Bank: Terrence Shannon Jr., 23; Josh Minott, 21
The thin one: McDaniels was fantastic defensively last season, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. But he had a disappointing regular season on offense, with stats down across the board, including his 33.7 percent three-point shooting. He was much better in the playoffs and needs to improve that heading into his fifth season.
Shannon was drafted 27th overall and the Wolves love his aggressiveness in attacking the rim and getting out in transition. He turns 24 in late July, making him older than many veterans on the roster.
Minott has played 187 minutes in his two seasons. With so much at stake in the regular season as the Wolves competed for a playoff spot, Finch simply wasn’t confident in giving Minott consistent playing time. If Anderson leaves, Finch may have no choice but to give Minott a real chance. He has intriguing physical tools. It’s time to see if he’s ready for real action.
Free Agent Outlook: There are plenty of young players at that position. While Anderson was more of a forward, he could handle the ball and slide into the 3 if needed. Joe Ingles, a player who has drawn interest from the Wolves in the past, would provide a veteran presence and a great shooter. Connelly would have had interest in Gordon Hayward if he had hit the buyout market last winter, but I haven’t heard any rumors about his name in free agency. Torrey Craig He has made 39 percent of his 3-pointers over his last two seasons.
Power Forward
Start: Karl Anthony’s Cities28
Bank: Naz Reid, 24 years old; Leonard Miller, 20 years old
The thin one: Towns was an All-Star again in 2023-24 and played very well against Phoenix and Denver in the playoffs. He had problems against Dallasand there have been calls for him to be traded, but Wolves will not be making a move to save money this summer. Owner Glen Taylor is committed to spending big to keep the team competitive.
Reid won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for his play last season and has improved markedly each season he’s been in the league. He likely has real trade value in the league, but the Wolves view him as an essential piece of their team going forward.
Miller is a captivating talent, big, strong, athletic and with a nose for rebounding. He’s still fairly raw and will likely be back for a long time in Iowa. But the Wolves have high long-term expectations.
Free Agent Outlook: Point guard and small forward seem like more likely targets for the Wolves, but they could look at old friend Robert Covington as a possibility. He’s struggled with injuries and could stay in Philadelphia, so that may be unlikely. Doug McDermott has a career 41 percent 3-point shooting percentage. His defensive deficiencies may not be as glaring with this Wolves group and his ability to knock down open 3s would be helpful.
Center
Start: Rudy Gobert32
Bank: Reid and peoples
The thin one: Gobert returned to form as one of the league’s dominant defensive players, winning his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. The image of Luka Doncic The fact that he hit 3s in the conference finals will linger, but the trade to get him has already been validated by his success this season and the playoff experience he provided to Edwards, Reid and McDaniels.
The Wolves have the best three-man rotation in the league. KAT and Naz’s versatility allows them to play both frontcourt positions, and all three can play in two-man or single-man formations.
Free Agent Outlook: The Timberwolves reached an agreement on Monday with luka garza with a minimum two-year contract, league sources confirmed. The athleticThe Wolves are eager to get him back. He hasn’t been able to play much, but he’s a talented offensive player and offers security in case one of the main centers gets injured.
(Photo by Kyle Anderson: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)