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The Minnesota Timberwolves turned some heads last season by eliminating the Denver Nuggets in the second round, going all the way to the Western Conference for the first time since the Kevin Garnett era. However, prior to the 2024-25 season, their foundation had already been compromised, caused by a trade that saw the team part ways with Karl-Anthony Towns in a blockbuster trade.
And just like the critics expected, the Timberwolves weren’t as dangerous, given that Randle was in no way filling the void of Towns. In fact, they’re currently involved in a tight race that could see them either make the playoffs as a top-six team or through the Play-In Tournament, a clear contrast to last season’s third-seeded finish.
Playing in the wild Western Conference, it won’t be a walk in the park for Minnesota on whoever they face in the postseason. However, there are some matchups that could be more favorable compared to others. For this piece, let’s take a look at the Timberwolves’ dream and nightmare scenarios for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Dream scenario: A playoff rematch against the Denver Nuggets
Last year, the Timberwolves were responsible for dethroning the Denver Nuggets at the Western Conference Semifinals. And even without Towns, their mastery over the Nuggets has remained the same. In the 2024-25 season, Minnesota has swept the Nuggets in the regular season, 4-0, including a 140-139 overtime thriller victory to spoil Nikola Jokic’s 61-point triple-double. Given that the Wolves have their number, it seems that the Nuggets would be an ideal matchup in the first round.
By now, everyone has realized that the Wolves roster was constructed to slow down Denver’s Jokic. The reigning three-time NBA MVP struggles against twin-tower combinations. With Naz Reid and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert anchoring Minnesota’s frontcourt to go along with the addition of former NBA Most Improved Player Julius Randle, Jokic and the Nuggets will be forced to exorcise their curse against the Timberwolves as early as the first round.
Aside from having the frontcourt personnel, the Wolves also have Anthony Edwards to terrorize the Nuggets’ lackluster perimeter defense as a shot creator. In addition to this, you can also expect Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Donte DiVincenzo to punish Denver with their marksmanship from deep.
Luckily for Minnesota, this scenario has a good chance of materializing. For now, the Timberwolves sit at the sixth seed with a 44-32 record, holding a tiebreaker over the Memphis Grizzlies. They can either catch up to the Golden State Warriors, who have a 44-31 record, for the fifth seed or hope that the Nuggets can chase the Los Angeles Lakers to reclaim the third seed. Nonetheless, the Timberwolves have a relatively light schedule to finish the season strong, giving them a solid chance to make the playoffs without going through the Play-In Tournament.
Nightmare scenario: Timberwolves fall to the Play-In Tournament and play the Thunder in the first round
While the Timberwolves have pulled themselves out of the Play-In Tournament conversation for now, the team is still at risk of missing an automatic spot in the postseason. The worst-case scenario would be for the Timberwolves to fall into the Play-In Tournament. By now, every basketball fan knows that falling into the play-in isn’t an ideal road to a championship.
By going down to the 7th-10th seed, Minnesota risks seeing their playoff chances go up in smoke by possibly facing elimination at least once. In addition to this, participating in the Play-In means more mileage on its players and less rest, opening the doors for injuries and fatigue. Although the Timberwolves are matched up better, at least on paper, against potential Play-In teams, anything can happen in do-or-die situations.
But should the Timberwolves survive the Play-In, that means setting up a date against one of the top two teams in the West. While the Houston Rockets would be beatable for Minnesota, drawing the Oklahoma City Thunder will be a different story. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have been a tough code to crack all season long. While they have split their games against the Thunder at 2-2, SGA has dominated the Wolves defense. In fact, he averages 35.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game when pitted against the Timberwolves. Furthermore, Oklahoma’s defensive schemes have been a nightmare for Minnesota’s offense.
On the bright side, the Wolves’ remaining games are winnable, favoring them to stay in the top six. However, the margin of error is still relatively small, as the Clippers and Grizzlies are still within striking distance. For now, Minnesota must make it a goal to catch the playoff bus without going through the Play-In Tournament.
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Six NBA players most likely to be traded
NBA teams won't assemble for training camp until September, but some players may not be on those teams for long. Here are six NBA players likely to get traded in the upcoming season. 1. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz Some NBA teams go all-in. The Utah Jazz have gone all-out, ditching veterans Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and John Collins this summer. Their lone remaining high-priced player is Lauri Markkanen, a 2023 All-Star who has four years and $196M left on his contract. He had a down year in 2024-25, playing just 47 games and dropping to 19 points per game, but the Jazz were also holding Markkanen out so much that they got fined. Markkanen's shooting would fit on nearly any NBA team, and he's still only 28 years old. The Jazz have amassed a lot of future draft picks, but many of them aren't great — pick swaps with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and a 2027 Los Angeles Lakers first-rounder. Trading their Finnish superstar could get them a huge return, especially if NBA teams are seeing him dominate in EuroBasket exhibition games. 2. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors It seems like a foregone conclusion that Jonathan Kuminga will resign with the Golden State Warriors and equally inevitable that the Warriors will then try to trade their 22-year-old forward. The only holdup is that the restricted free agent and his team can't agree on a new contract. The Warriors need to get something back for their former lottery pick, but they also need to preserve his salary slot. Kuminga and his agent couldn't work out a sign-and-trade this summer, but once free agents who signed this summer can be traded Dec. 15, far more trade options will open up. Kuminga doesn't want to be on the Warriors. The Warriors don't want to guarantee him playing time. The breakup looks like it's coming. 3. Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics In a year where the Boston Celtics have dramatically slashed their payroll in Jayson Tatum's absence, they have a huge incentive to deal Anfernee Simons, the guard acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday trade. Getting rid of Simons gets them under the luxury tax, which is worth tens of millions of dollars, while also keeping the Celtics out of penalties for repeatedly being a tax team. It all depends on whether the Celtics will settle for the financial savings or hold out to get assets back for the impending free agent. But Simons is almost certainly headed somewhere. 4. P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks P.J. Washington was a huge part of the Dallas Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Unfortunately, he plays the same position as the guy the Mavericks just took with the No. 1 pick in the draft, Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks also have Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and the newly-extended Daniel Gafford. Washington and his expiring contract are now expendable. 5. CJ McCollum/Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards took on McCollum and Middleton in trades in the past year, moves that were primarily made to shed the long-term salaries of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma. But even though those players were both born in 1991, they should still be able to contribute to winning teams in 2025-26. The Wizards may value their veteran leadership, but they also have a roster full of recent draft picks who need playing time — and you can never have too many future draft picks.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth’s honest Aaron Rodgers verdict after joint practice
The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting closer to regular-season form, and tight end Pat Freiermuth is already liking what he sees. After Thursday’s joint practice between Pittsburgh and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium, the fifth-year veteran offered high praise for his new quarterback, while also pointing to strides being made across the offense. Aaron Rodgers’s joint practice performance was under the microscope — and Freiermuth’s take was clear. In an article posted by Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley, she noted that Freiermuth has been encouraged by what the team has shown offensively. He especially liked what he saw from the offensive line and their new signal-caller. “I thought the offensive line played pretty solid. I thought Aaron played really well. I think we came out here and did our job, and I thought we all looked pretty solid as an offense. We have to continue to grow, but I think we’re taking steps in the right direction.” The comments from Freiermuth reflect a broader theme from the day, progress with room for growth. Pittsburgh’s offense reportedly won the majority of the Seven Shots period during Thursday’s session, with strong execution in red-zone situations. The two-minute drill was more mixed, but the exposure to Tampa Bay’s different defensive looks — including four-man fronts — added real value to the day’s work. The Steelers offense update comes as Rodgers continues ramping up in live action after sitting out the first preseason game. Thursday’s joint practice marked his most substantial work of August so far, and his timing with the 2021 draft pick out of Penn State and the rest of the offense appears to be coming together. With a retooled wide receiver group and a revamped offensive line, joint sessions are providing valuable live reps in simulated game conditions. Rodgers is not expected to suit up for Saturday’s preseason matchup, as Pittsburgh continues to manage his workload ahead of Week 1. Freiermuth remains a key target in the red zone and in middle-field route concepts, and his chemistry with the 41-year-old quarterback is already drawing attention. The offensive line, meanwhile, earned a public shout-out — a sign that communication and protection are trending in the right direction. The staff continues to manage preseason usage carefully, meaning Rodgers and other starters may be limited again in Saturday’s exhibition against the Buccaneers. The Steelers and Buccaneers joint-practice offered the kind of controlled but competitive reps that coaches and players value most. No major injuries were reported, and the work helped refine offensive timing, especially in pressure moments. While Freiermuth emphasized that the unit is still building, Thursday’s showing was a positive sign. With Week 1 of the regular season approaching, the offense looks like it’s beginning to click — and the veteran tight end seems confident they’re headed in the right direction.
Tennessee's groundbreaking Adidas deal a game-changer for college sports in NIL era
Another Cowboys star could hold out amid Micah Parsons' contract drama
The Dallas Cowboys need to figure out what to do with Micah Parsons because whatever they're doing right now isn't working. Team owner Jerry Jones said he was willing to "stir the pot" when asked about Parsons' contract stalemate and trade request. Given Parsons' character, that may have rubbed him the wrong way. However, that's not the only contract situation they need to address. While everybody's focused on the Penn State product, CB DaRon Bland is also waiting for an extension of his own. More importantly, he recently said that he hoped it would get done before the Cowboys open the season on Sept. 4. "I do, but I'm not here to talk about it really too much," Bland told the team's website. "But yea, hopefully." Jerry and Stephen Jones aren't that fond of players setting deadlines for contract negotiations, and they've shown that they're willing to wait until the very last second to get a deal done, relationships be damned. Bland has been an instrumental piece of the Cowboys secondary, especially with fellow CB Trevon Diggs struggling with injuries. When asked about his goal for next season, he opened up about his desire to dominate opposite Diggs. "Always hopeful for both of us to be healthy first of all, and for both of us to show out on the field together. Can't wait until it happens," Bland said. Still, given the way the Cowboys have treated their stars and have dealt with contract situations, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Bland also go to desperate measures to get what he's earned.
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
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