3 Minnesota Timberwolves Under the Most Pressure This Season

By Ted Schwerzler |

Updated: Oct 16, 2024

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves — Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves are just days away from kicking off their 2024-25 regular season. After making the Western Conference Finals last season, they’ll be looking to take the next step. If Chris Finch is going to put his team in the NBA Finals or bring home a championship, then a new-look roster will need to gel early.

Gone is Karl-Anthony Towns and in are both Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. There is no question that this is Anthony Edwards’ team now, and the superstar will need to ascend as such. He is going to be in the MVP conversation, and taking home the award would likely be reflective of a career-year.

This trio of talent means more than anyone else on the Minnesota roster.

Anthony Edwards means everything for Minnesota Timberwolves

It has been true for at least a year now, but there is zero question anymore that the Minnesota Timberwolves are Anthony Edwards’ team. There is no Karl-Anthony Towns to defer to, and the closing games rests entirely on the shoulders of this man. Edwards has handled the pressure well thus far, and he lives for the ability to be a star.

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on how he fits in with USA Basketball Olympic team: “I’m still the number one option. Y’all might look at it differently. … They’ve got to fit in around me. That’s how I feel.” pic.twitter.com/Cga5kTiR2J
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 7, 2024

This summer Edwards got the opportunity to play with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry during the Olympics. That experience could prove to be invaluable if he takes the lessons and traits he learned alongside of those stars and translates them to his game.

Edwards was named All-NBA for the first time last season. His 25.9 points per game was a career-best. That is a strong start, but where he goes from here will largely determine the outcome for Minnesota this year.

Timberwolves need the best of Rudy Gobert

Last season the Minnesota Timberwolves got close to a full slate from Rudy Gobert. Towns still missed some time, but the acquired big man was a defensive stalwart en route to his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. Gobert is not a massive offensive threat, but he will need to take on a greater role with Towns no longer down in the post.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert reunited after preseason game.

📸: Jordyn Woods' IG pic.twitter.com/AJDn7dIHrW
— Don March (@ItsAlwaysMarch) October 14, 2024

It is imperative that Gobert finds a way to quickly mesh with newly acquired big man Julius Randle. The former Knicks star is a different talent than Towns, and finding a rhythm took a while when Gobert came over in the first place. There will be some growing pains, but the more the incumbent can limit them, the better.

Gobert has yet to make an All-Star team with the Timberwolves. Although that isn’t a gold standard in terms of performance evaluation, this year would be as good of a time as any.

Julius Randle is the key from Minnesota’s trade

The Timberwolves largely traded Towns to escape luxury tax implications. That said, they did well to receive a pair of talented players in return. Donte DiVincenzo is going to be expected to score, but All-Star Julius Randle must do the heavy lifting.

Julius Randle put up 24/10/4 a game over the last two years 👊🏽 Bully ball, face up game, improved three ball, gets to the line and versatile. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. Timberwolves got a dog. They just have to make it fit now. pic.twitter.com/7AdQaOwZvD
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) September 28, 2024

Randle averaged 24.0 points per game last season, just shy of his career-high 25.1 points per game the year prior. He isn’t the three-point threat that Towns was for Minnesota, but the big man needs to show up plenty in the box score. There are a ton of minutes to be covered, and Edwards will need scoring help after losing the team’s second option.

Chris Finch may need to rework the offense in an effort to play into Randle’s strengths. Still, there is plenty of room for Randle to emerge with his new team. The Timberwolves can’t afford him to be timid in achieving those results.