Minnesota’s Front Office Believes Young Players Will Shine originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are set for a massive 2025-26 season. Expectations are high, but they are rolling out mostly the same team from the 2024-25 campaign. Of course, they do not have Nickeil Alexander-Walker, so one could argue that it is not the best version of this team anymore.
That is not what the Timberwolves front office believes, as they know their veterans will shoulder the responsibility of leading the team. At the same time, they also expect growth from the players they have drafted over the past few years. They want to operate under the second apron and maintain the team’s quality through the youth.
The Timberwolves are fresh from a second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance. They have been close to the NBA Finals over the past two years, and they have shown genuine improvements, especially in how they play around Edwards as the star player.
Minnesota’s front office is optimistic about the team’s future, especially with the young core. It is a good sign for the long-term future, as their superstar is only 23, while his supporting cast is the optimal group. With Chris Finch as the head coach, everything is in the right place; they need to live up to the lofty expectations.
The Timberwolves Have A Great Mix Of Youth And Veterans
During the 2025 NBA Summer League, a Timberwolves front office executive spoke to Keith Smith. This was an important conversation because this executive gave some key details ahead of a massive 2025-26 campaign for the Timberwolves.
They are hoping to succeed with mostly the same roster sans Alexander-Walker. They are hoping that the young players could fill the Alexander-Walker-shaped hole in Minnesota’s rotation.
Terrence Shannon Jr. with 24 PTS, 5 triples and a MASSIVE poster in the @Timberwolves win 🔥🐺 pic.twitter.com/SINppxrCBf
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 13, 2025
"But when a door closes, another one opens. We’ve got some guys who will benefit from stepping into more minutes, and we’re excited about that,"The executive told Keith Smith. "Our vets will carry us, but they need support. That’s going to come from the guys we’ve added over the last few years."
This is a significant sign for the team, as they will trust players like Jaylen Clark, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Rob Dillingham. After a 2024-25 season that saw these players have sporadic minutes, it looks like the front office and Finch’s coaching staff will expect these young players to crack the rotation.
Operating Under The Second Apron Poses A Problem
The modern NBA has led all 30 teams to become more frugal with how they spend. Players are getting huge contracts, but teams are more restricted with how they distribute their money. That is why the Timberwolves do not want to operate with the pressure of the second apron.
While new owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are willing to dip into the luxury tax, that should not be a long-term plan. They want to be a healthy team throughout the organization, and that should start with the roster construction.
The second apron. pic.twitter.com/x3iz5T856y
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 24, 2025
"It’s not a mandate or anything. It’s something we’re conscious of, though. We want to be mindful of not putting too many burdens on ourselves as we move down the line,"The executive continued. "But if the right move is there, and we have to add some salary, then we’ll add some salary. We’re all on the same page there."
The future is bright for Minnesota, as it looks like president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is doing well in his job. It will be challenging to catch up to the rest of the NBA, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Timberwolves should be a tough team to play against.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
