Gobert’s defensive issues were somewhat overrated, in part because he seems wildly unpopular among other players, in part because his perimeter defenders have often let him down in the playoffs. Being benched in the Olympics didn’t help his case, either. But he also needs to have a truly dominant playoff series, both for Minnesota’s hopes and his own reputation.
How much does Mike Conley have left?
If you were to pinpoint the moment where the Timberwolves became a serious Western Conference threat, you’d likely pick the moment they traded for veteran point guard Mike Conley at the 2023 trade deadline. Conley’s leadership and solid defense settled down a Wolves team that had often seemed out of control. Last season, he averaged 11.9 points and 5.9 assists, while shooting 44.2% from three-point range.
But Conley will turn 37 before the 2024-25 season begins, making him the NBA’s ninth-oldest player. With Jordan McLaughlin and Monte Morris departing, Conley’s backup is 19-year-old lottery pick Rob Dillingham, with superstar Anthony Edwards and Nickell Alexander-Walker available to fill in. Even though Conley has been remarkably healthy the last few seasons, Minnesota is going to need quality minutes from rookies like Dillingham and Terrence Shannon, Jr., plus 20-year-old Leonard Miller, because the team does not have much veteran depth.
What’s going to happen with ownership?
Alex Rodriguez and his partner, former Diapers.com CEO Marc Lore, thought they were buying a majority share in the Timberwolves from owner Glen Taylor. But the purchase was made in installments — an unusual method for buying a team — likely because the Rodriguez-Lore team needed to raise the $1.5B purchase price. In the wake of Rodriguez’s breakup with Jennifer Lopez, who partnered with Lore and A-Rod in an unsuccessful bid to buy the New York Mets, raising the cash became an issue.
In late March, Taylor claimed the new owners had missed a deadline to deliver their final payment of $600M for the team and that he was no longer selling the team. Perhaps Taylor had a change of heart seeing the Timberwolves go 56-26 or he realized the team was now likely worth far more than $1.5B. Taylor reportedly worried about new ownership’s plan to dramatically cut payroll.
The two sides are headed to arbitration, now, with billionaire Michael Bloomberg joining the Lore-Rodriguez group. Adding to the chaos is team president Tim Connelly’s ability to opt out of his contract next year. When a team’s owners are suing each other, with one group intent on cutting payroll and the existing owner set to turn 84 during next year’s playoffs, the uncertainty of the franchise’s financial future jeopardizes the team on the court as well.
