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Naz Reid Finch expects Randle and Reid to remain with MIN
Tue, Jun 17, 2025, 7:45 AM
Jon Krawczynski
Head coach Chris Finch said he expects Julius Randle and Naz Reid to remain with the Timberwolves next season.
Analysis: With Randle and Reid have player options for next season, and while there hasn't been any official update about whether they will pick those options up or not, Finch expects them to remain in Minnesota. That could mean they decline their options and sign new contracts; it would be surprising if Reid accepted a $15 million option for next season. If he signs elsewhere, Reid could find a starting role, which would be ideal for his fantasy production. |
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Naz Reid Fischer: Reid expected to opt out of contract
Sun, Jun 1, 2025, 8:55 AM
Jake Fischer
NBA insider Jake Fischer reports Naz Reid is expected to opt out of his contract and enter free agency.
Analysis: Reid has been one of the best reserves in the NBA over the last few seasons. If he chooses to test the free agent waters, it could be to simply gauge his value and earn a fair contract. It doesn't guarantee that he will leave Minnesota, though if he is able to find a team that wants to him to start, that could be the best thing for his fantasy value. In that scenario, he would be drafted much earlier in fantasy drafts next season. |
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Donte DiVincenzo Donte DiVincenzo hits two three-pointers in Game 5
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:36 PM
Donte DiVincenzo finished Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder, finishing with six points (2-of-4 FGs), six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two three-pointers.
Analysis: DiVincenzo's first season in Minnesota ended with a thud, despite the solid rebound tally. It was expected that his fantasy value would take a hit after being traded to the Timberwolves, as evidenced by the Yahoo! ADP of 106. DiVincenzo finished ranked outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats, providing slightly higher value in the former. His value for next season will depend on what happens with fellow reserves Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid. While NAW will be an unrestricted free agent, Reid has a player option. If one (or both) leaves, that would raise DiVincenzo's fantasy ceiling, especially with starting guard Mike Conley not getting any younger. |
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Naz Reid Naz Reid scores 11 points in Game 5 blowout loss
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:33 PM
Naz Reid recorded 11 points (5-of-6 FGs), five rebounds, one steal, three blocks and one three-pointer in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: While Reid shot the ball well in Game 5 and recorded three blocked shots, this was not a good series finale. He was responsible for five turnovers, and the âstocksâ don't tell the whole story, as Reid struggled defensively. The issues on that end of the floor make for an interesting offseason, as Reid can opt out of the final year of his current deal. His offensive ability may drive up the price tag, but his value with another team will depend on the rest of the roster. If Reid is paired with players who can cover for his defensive deficiencies, especially in pick-and-roll actions, he can be effective. And to truly be worth a roll of the dice in standard fantasy leagues, he'll need to land a starting role. That's unlikely to happen in Minnesota. |
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker Nickeil Alexander-Walker goes scoreless in Game 5
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:30 PM
Nickeil Alexander-Walker shot 0-of-8 from the field in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder, scoring zero points with two rebounds and three assists.
Analysis: While Alexander-Walker's play for the duration of the playoffs appeared to raise his ceiling heading into unrestricted free agency, Game 5 was a dud. He missed all eight of his shot attempts on the night, going scoreless for the first time this postseason. Alexander-Walker's fantasy value next season depends on where he lands. If Minnesota can work something out and re-sign him, he'll be a deep-league option at best after underwhelming from a fantasy standpoint. However, with the Timberwolves having Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr., the decision could be made that Alexander-Walker is too expensive to retain. |
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Rudy Gobert Rudy Gobert plays 19 minutes in Game 5 defeat
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:27 PM
Rudy Gobert amassed two points (1-of-1 FGs), five rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: Outside of Game 4, Gobert had little impact on the action in the Western Conference Finals. He made his only shot attempt in Game 5 but only played 19 minutes, as Timberwolves coach Chris Finch searched furiously for answers in a game that got away from his team early. While fantasy managers hoped Karl-Anthony Towns' departure would boost Gobert's fantasy value, things did not work out that way. Boasting a Yahoo! ADP of 47, he finished outside the top-75 in eight-cat formats and outside the top-60 in nine-cat. Gobert is approaching the point in his career when he should not be a top-50 selection in standard leagues. |
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Jaden McDaniels Jaden McDaniels goes cold in Game 5 defeat
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:26 PM
Jaden McDaniels tallied five points (2-of-13 FGs), five rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: McDaniels had a brutal night in Oklahoma City, shooting 2-of-13 from the field in an unfortunate end to his season. The finish will take away from what was a productive season for the Timberwolves wing, who exceeded his Yahoo! ADP (142) and provided top-100 value in eight- and nine-cat formats. McDaniels finished the regular season with career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 81.3 percent from the foul line. At a minimum, he should be a safe top-100 pick in standard league drafts in the fall. |
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Julius Randle Randle nets team-high 24 points in Game 5 loss
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:24 PM
Julius Randle accumulated 24 points (8-of-14 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal and four three-pointers in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: While Randle did finish Game 5 with a solid stat line, he got off to a slow start on Wednesday, shooting 3-of-6 from the field. As with Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves needed a far more aggressive Randle to entertain the possibility of extending the series, and he was unable to come through. With the move to Minnesota, many fantasy managers expected Randle to be a solid middle-round player based on his Yahoo! ADP of 62. Unfortunately, he failed to meet expectations, providing eight-round value in eight-cat formats while finishing outside the top-100 in nine-cat. Randle has a player option worth nearly $31 million for the 2025-26 season; he becomes an unrestricted free agent if he does not exercise it. |
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Mike Conley Mike Conley goes scoreless in Game 5 blowout
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:22 PM
Mike Conley shot 0-of-3 from the field in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder, going scoreless with one assist, two steals and one blocked shot.
Analysis: Conley had a rough night in Oklahoma City, providing little value in the Timberwolves' final game of the season. He was expected to be a late-round player in eight- and nine-cat formats before the season began, and he met those expectations. Conley is headed into the final season of his contract, and between the pending free agency of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the development of first-round pick Rob Dillingham, it's conceivable that Conley's playing time (24.7 mpg in 2024-25) takes a hit next season. At best, he'll be a player worthy of late-round consideration in standard league drafts. |
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Anthony Edwards Edwards scores 19 points in series-ending loss
Wed, May 28, 2025, 5:20 PM
Anthony Edwards finished Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Thunder with 19 points (7-of-18 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), six rebounds, two assists, one block and one three-pointer.
Analysis: The final two games of the Western Conference Finals are not going to be part of Edwards' career highlight reel. While the final point total in Game 5 was solid, the Timberwolves' star guard did not grab control of the game from the start as many hoped he would. Regarding Edwards' fantasy value, while he did not match his Yahoo! ADP of 10, he was close in eight- and nine-cat formats. Edwards was a top-20 player in both, making him worth the risk many fantasy managers took in drafts. He'll be a worthwhile first-round pick in standard leagues in the fall. |
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Donte DiVincenzo Donte DiVincenzo sinks five triples in Game 4
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:52 PM
Donte DiVincenzo finished Monday's Game 4 loss to the Thunder with 21 points (7-of-11 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, five assists, one steal and five three-pointers.
Analysis: After disappointing during the first three games of the Western Conference Finals, DiVincenzo seeing two triples go down late in Game 3 may have set the stage for Game 4. He was huge on Monday, with the 21 points being the most he's scored in a game this postseason. Minnesota's reserves combined to score 64 points, keeping them in the game despite Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle struggling offensively. In addition to needing their stars to be better in Game 5, Minnesota will need another good night from DiVincenzo to keep their season alive. |
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads MIN with 23 points
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:48 PM
Nickeil Alexander-Walker accumulated 23 points (9-of-15 FGs), four rebounds, six assists, two steals and five three-pointers in Monday's Game 4 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: Alexander-Walker, who will be a free agent this summer, has picked a good time to increase his production. A double-digit scorer in each of the last three games, he was at his best Monday night. The 23 points were a playoff career-high for Alexander-Walker, who scored 20 in Game 2 of Minnesota's second-round series against the Warriors. While expecting a similar performance from him in Game 5 would be a bit much, Alexander-Walker can be a factor off the bench. Even if the point total is not as robust, NAW must provide value again to help the Timberwolves force a Game 6. |
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Jaden McDaniels Jaden McDaniels records 22 points, complete line
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:44 PM
Jaden McDaniels shot 9-of-15 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line in Monday's Game 4 loss to the Thunder, tallying 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, four steals, one block and three three-pointers.
Analysis: With Julius Randle limited to five points on 1-of-7 shooting and Anthony Edwards getting off to a slow start, Minnesota needed more production from its âothersâ in Game 4. McDaniels was one of the players who answered the call, shooting 66.7 percent from the field and recording a complete stat line. Despite being asked to serve as the primary defender of league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, McDaniels has scored 22 points in two of the last three games in this series. The Timberwolves will need a similar effort in Wednesday's Game 5 to keep their season alive. |
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Anthony Edwards Edwards nets just 16 points in Game 4 defeat
Mon, May 26, 2025, 5:42 PM
Anthony Edwards recorded 16 points (5-of-13 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), four rebounds, six assists and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 4 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: Surprisingly, Edwards only attempted two shots during the first half of Game 4. A little too willing to allow the game to come to him, the Timberwolves' star was more aggressive after halftime, even if that did not mean more shots for him early on. Edwards's ability to get into the paint led to others getting clean looks, helping Minnesota trim the deficit. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, while Edwards was better after halftime, Julius Randle (5/7/3/1 in 28 minutes) struggled, shooting 1-of-7 from the field. With their season on the line Wednesday night, Minnesota will need Edwards and Randle to be on their A-games from the start in Game 5. |
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Julius Randle Julius Randle has 24 points as T-Wolves win Game 3
Sat, May 24, 2025, 5:05 PM
Julius Randle had 24 points (9-of-15 FGs), four rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers in Game 3 against the Thunder on Saturday.
Analysis: Randle was benched for the entire fourth quarter of Game 2, but bounced back and was a big part of the Timberwolves getting back in the series in Game 3. The 30-year-old power forward was a scoring machine with 24 points on 15 shots including two made three-pointers. Randle didn't play most of the fourth quarter in Game 3 either, though it was due to the lopsided score and the fact that the Thunder had already pulled their starters. Despite the Game 3 fourth quarter benching, Randle was back as Robin to Anthony Edwards' Batman in Game 3. |
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Anthony Edwards Edwards nets 30 points in blowout Game 3 victory
Sat, May 24, 2025, 5:03 PM
Anthony Edwards had 30 points (12-of-17 FGs), nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and five three-pointers on Saturday in the Timberwolves' 143-101 Game 3 victory over the Thunder.
Analysis: Edwards was locked in from the jump in a must-win situation in a pivotal Game 3 showdown. The 23-year-old shooting guard outscored the entire Thunder team by himself (16-14) in the first quarter. The route was on from there as the Timberwolves took a 31-point lead into halftime and ended up winning by 42. Edwards joined Kobe Bryant and Luka Doncic as the only guards with at least 15 30-point playoff games before turning 24. Edwards and the Timberwolves will look to even the series in Game 4 on Monday. |
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Julius Randle Julius Randle struggles, sits entire 4th quarter
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:54 PM
Julius Randle recorded six points (2-of-11 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), five rebounds, five assists and one steal in Thursday's loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: After an excellent performance in Game 1 on Tuesday, Randle was poor on Thursday. While the rebounds and assists may provide solace, he could not find his groove offensively. Needing a spark, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch decided to go in a different direction, with Randle not playing at all during the fourth quarter. He'll look to bounce back when the Timberwolves host Game 3 on Saturday night. |
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker Nickeil Alexander-Walker scores 17 points vs. OKC
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:49 PM
Nickeil Alexander-Walker tallied 17 points (5-of-8 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), two rebounds, two assists and three three-pointers in Thursday's loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: With Naz Reid (10/8/0/1/2) and Donte DiVincenzo (8/3/3 with two three-pointers) both shooting 3-of-8 from the field, Alexander-Walker did most of the heavy lifting for the Timberwolves' reserves in Game 2. The 17 points are the most he's scored in a game since Game 2 of the second round, when he dropped 20 on the Warriors. Nights like Thursday have not been the norm for Alexander-Walker, so Minnesota will need more from Reid and DiVincenzo to win this series. With the action shifting to Minneapolis, the Timberwolves hope the belief that reserves play better at home rings true. |
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Jaden McDaniels Jaden McDaniels hits four triples in Game 2 defeat
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:45 PM
Jaden McDaniels accounted for 22 points (8-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), two rebounds, three blocks and four three-pointers in Thursday's Game 2 loss to the Thunder.
Analysis: McDaniels has taken on the unenviable task of defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and his emotions got the best of him late in Game 2. The Timberwolves forward was whistled for a flagrant foul after shoving SGA to the floor, but that does not tell the whole story of McDaniels' night. After scoring seven points in the series opener, he more than tripled that number on Thursday, shooting over 50 percent from the field. McDaniels can undoubtedly be productive as a scorer, but expecting 20-plus points per night while also having to defend a player of Gilgeous-Alexander's caliber is a lot to ask. Game 3 is on Saturday night in Minneapolis. |
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Anthony Edwards Anthony Edwards leads T-wolves with 32 points
Thu, May 22, 2025, 5:38 PM
ESPN
Anthony Edwards finished Thursday's Game 2 loss to the Thunder with 32 points (12-of-26 FGs, 7-of-10 FTs), nine rebounds, six assists, one block and one three-pointer.
Analysis: Edwards' offensive production picked up after he scored 18 points in Game 1, but the perimeter shooting remains troublesome. Having shot 3-of-8 from three in Game 1, he was even worse on Thursday, making just one of his nine attempts. Edwards shot 11-of-17 from two and got 10 free throw attempts, boosting the final point total, and he did not commit a turnover. Also, Edwards made history in Game 2, passing Kevin Garnett to become the leading postseason point scorer in franchise history. Given Oklahoma City's depth and talent, Ant-Man will need his supporting cast to step up in Saturday's Game 3 after many failed to do so on Thursday. |
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