In the meantime, some moves needed to be made, in order to round out the final opening night roster. So Saturday evening, the Wolves announced those transactions. First, they waived four depth players, Jules Bernard, Tristen Newton, Zyon Pullin and Alize Johnson.

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived guards Jules Bernard, Tristen Newton and Zyon Pullin and forward Alize Johnson. The Timberwolves roster stands at 17 players.

Minnesota Timberwolves Press Release – October 18, 2025 – 4:20 p.m. CDT

Minnesota Timberwolves convert contract of Johnny Juzang

But that was only the beginning. From there, the MN Timberwolves converted the contract of UCLA’s Johnny Juzang — a 24-year-old wing who fell out of favor in Utah after three seasons but shot his way into a two-way contract during his preseason tryout in Minnesota.

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has converted guard Johnny Juzang to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Minnesota Timberwolves Press Release – October 18, 2025 – 4:20 p.m. CDT

Johnny Juzang off-screen 3 pic.twitter.com/Lx1GKPQzmI

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) October 8, 2025

While Juzang’s signing this fall flew relatively under the radar, he certainly did not come in as a scrub with little NBA experience. After two successful years at UCLA (played one season at Kentucky in 2019-20), Johnny came out after his junior season back in 2022.

While he went undrafted, Juzang quickly earned a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, out of the preseason. A few months later, in February 2023, he found his way onto an NBA court for the first time.

Juzang ended up playing 18 games that first season in Utah, a number that grew over the next two years, all the way up to 64 games played (18 starts) in 2024-25. In his final year wearing a Jazz uniform, Johnny averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.8 minutes per game during his final season with the Jazz.

Wolves exercise rookie options on both Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr

All eyes will be on Rob Dillingham, when the season opens in Portland next week. How much will the 20-year-old play, how soon will Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch call his name off the bench? Those are only the start of the questions that surround the second year point guard out of Kentucky.

• Rob Dillingham 2024-25 Stats (49 Games) : 10.5 MPG | 4.5 PPG | 2.0 APG | 1.0 RPG | 1.1 TO

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced last week that their other 2024 first round pick, Terrence Shannon Jr has earned his spot in the regular season rotation and Finchy confirmed he will be called upon early and often, starting Wednesday in Portland.

But no matter their roles now, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly showed confidence in the future of both youngsters Saturday evening, when he exercised the first round options on their first round rookie contracts, locking them both in through the 2026-27 season.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has exercised team options on guards Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Press Release – October 18, 2025 – 4:26 p.m. CDT

Terrence Shannon Jr. explosive transition dunk, created by the Rob Dillingham block + assist pic.twitter.com/wCGFv3rMbX

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) July 12, 2024

During the preseason, the 2024 No. 8 overall pick teetered between reckless to downright ugly, which isn’t exactly the step forward in development that Wolves coaches and executives were hoping to see when the team arrived at Mayo Clinic Square for the start of training camp last month.

• T.J. Shannon Jr. 2024-25 Stats (32 Games) : 10.6 MPG | 4.3 PPG | 1.0 APG | 1.5 RPG | 0.5 TO

TJ Shannon Jr, on the other hand, has been the anti Rob Dillingham, ever since the 25-year-old found his footing off the bench toward the end of last season. In 2025-26, the Minnesota Timberwolves hope to use him as both a high-minute stopper on defense, and offensive igniter on offense, if he can prove to be effective in that role.

Chris Finch will need to decide if he’s going to use rookie first round pick Joan Beringer as part of the rotation. Terrence Shannon Jr. can eat up plenty of the minutes vacated by the since-departed Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

From there the team has seemingly needed to add guard talent. Specifically they need a playmaker to facilitate behind or alongside of Mike Conley. Maybe Johnny Juzang can be part of the answer.

Johnny Juzang joins Minnesota Timberwolves

Plenty of the big ticket free agents are off the board. That won’t stop the Timberwolves from looking to improve the roster on the fringes. NBA insider Shams Charania reports that former Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang is headed to Minnesota.

Free agent guard Johnny Juzang has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. Juzang played his first three NBA seasons in Utah and averaged 8.9 points and 38% 3-point shooting in 19.8 minutes per game in 2024-25.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2025

The former Kentucky and UCLA product spent his first three seasons in the NBA with the Utah Jazz. Last season was his most productive in the NBA as he played 64 games and averaged 8.9 points.

Johnny Juzang shot 38.8% on catch-and-shoot threes last season

He's become a legitimate three point shooting threat over his last few years in Utah pic.twitter.com/kV6yfMeH6R

— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) June 8, 2025

After averaging 18.6 minutes per game in 2023-24, he jumped up to 19.8 minutes per game last season. Juzang’s efficiency took a slight step back last season. After shooting 46.4% two years ago, he was at just 42.9% last season. The three-point percentage dropped from 41.6% to 37.6% as well.

Juzang has played more of the shooting guard role at the professional level. He’s not an ideal fit for the ball-handling facilitator type. How Minnesota deploys him will be something to monitor.

Related: Timberwolves Bring Back Fan Favorite Uniform; Tease Full Rebrand

Although it doesn’t feel like they have been off the court too long, the MN Timberwolves will soon be back in action. This is their first year under new ownership.