The Minnesota Timberwolves stumbled out of the gate this season, but their play since Thanksgiving has reshaped expectations around the league.
As Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic notes, Minnesota owns the NBA’s best record over that stretch and backed it up with a dominant road win Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
That performance came under less-than-ideal circumstances.
The Wolves were without Rudy Gobert due to suspension and Anthony Edwards because of a foot issue, yet still controlled the game from start to finish, pulling away for a 33-point victory.
According to Krawczynski, the win sent a clear message not only externally, but also internally to president of basketball operations Tim Connelly that the roster may already be good enough as constructed.
“We don’t need anything,” one player told The Athletic after the game. “We’re a really, really good team.”
Despite that confidence, Minnesota’s front office has done its due diligence, quietly surveying the trade market for weeks.
Team sources told Krawczynski that splashy moves involving high-salary guards such as Ja Morant or LaMelo Ball are unlikely, as the Wolves are intent on avoiding the second tax apron and preserving their depth.
If Minnesota makes any move before the February 5 deadline, it would likely be modest.
Krawczynski suggests the most realistic addition would be a rotation wing or guard, someone capable of easing the late-game burden on Edwards rather than reshaping the core of a team that is increasingly playing like a contender.
Timberwolves Notes: Deadline, Hyland, Beringer, Edwards https://t.co/1LwxYxlfSr pic.twitter.com/kkMCbEtl3f
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 16, 2026
