Their stars, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are both in for huge pay increases that will make the Wolves roster one of the highest paid in the NBA. On top of all those high priced game checks, will come a luxury tax bill at the end of the season that is projected to be $50 million, if no moves are made this offseason.

WILL Glen Taylor foot that bill, if he remains majority owner? If Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore take over, CAN they dole out that kind of cash? If the answer to either of those questions is no, then Towns appears the most in danger of being moved. He’d bring the most back in a trade and Naz Reid could slide into his place somewhat seamlessly.

Karl Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks?

While Karl Anthony Towns has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves since the moment Flip Saunders made him the number one overall pick back in 2015, he is a New Jersey native and certainly has ties to the east coast.

KAT’s most important tie to the Big Apple might be his former agent, Leon Rose, who is now president of the New York Knicks. Who is his right-hand man? Gersson Rosas, ever heard of him? He only ran the Wolves and had them on their way to building a team around KAT.

The Knicks also happen to have FOUR first round picks over the next two NBA Drafts and they are on the prowl for more offensive help. In other words, if Tim Connelly is thinking about moving Karl-Anthony Towns, there may be no better fit in the league than the New York Knicks. That’s why rumors randomly leak out linking the two.

According to @ShamsCharania the Knicks have maintained a level of interest in Karl Anthony Towns 👀 pic.twitter.com/IFoRcqV4k9

— Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) January 2, 2024

Towns has a salary that increases to $49.3 million next season. He will be 29 years old and the Timberwolves could turn the page to Naz Reid as their starter. Reid, who is a fan-favorite, will be just 25 years old and is set to make only $14 million. That number would allow Minnesota and Tim Connelly ample opportunity to make other roster moves.

Would Tom Thibodeau want Karl-Anthony Towns in New York?

Of course, one substantial caveat to Karl Anthony Towns playing for the New York Knicks means that he would again be coached by Tom Thibodeau. The last time that tandem was together, we saw a season of tumultuous proportions, complete with a Jimmy Butler blow up and forced trade that nearly ruined the franchise.

In any scenario that includes Towns going to the Knicks, Thibodeau would both need to believe that the talented big man was actually going to play his brand of defense, which is not something longtime local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) believes (or is being told) that Thibs is sold on.

It’s unclear whether Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached Towns with the Timberwolves, could be convinced that Towns has finally decided to play defense.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Given how the last time both Karl Anthony Towns and Tom Thibodeau were paired together went, it’s pretty crazy to think that a fresh start would be a great idea. Then again, Towns wouldn’t be the face in New York that he is in Minnesota, and he has already learned how to defer to another talented start that is well his junior.

Related: Jason Kidd Questions Karl-Anthony Towns’ Self-Proclaimed Big Man Legacy

How the Timberwolves fare during this playoff run would seem to be the deciding factor regarding what they do with some of the key pieces of their roster. An exit without a title may have them more inclined to get the band back together and see if a third season with the same core can yield the desired results.

Make no mistake, Karl-Anthony Towns returning from a meniscus surgery this season to play meaningful minutes down the stretch and in the playoffs has been incredible. He put up arguably two of the best games in his career during Game 6 and 7 against the Denver Nuggets in round two.

Then he checked out.

Karl-Anthony Towns absent when Minnesota Timberwolves needed him most

Maybe Karl-Anthony Towns wants to win an NBA Championship, and maybe he’d like to do it with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but nothing about his performance during this Western Conference finals suggests that’s true. The statistics to describe his ineptitude are jarring and substantial. Take your pick as to which hurts the most:

• Through three games Towns has shot 15/54 (28%) and 3/22 (14%) from deep.
• He has averaged just 15 points per game.
• The greatest impact he has made may have been an inadvertent knee to the head (first to the midsection) of Dereck Lively II.
• In the 4th quarter alone, Towns has shot 2-12 from the field, 1-8 from deep, and has been worth -16 when on the court.
• At 13.6% from deep, Towns owns the lowest three-point percentage in Western Conference Finals history.

Karl Anthony Towns pic.twitter.com/WLgFpannul

— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 27, 2024

Towns has been horrendous, abysmal, and non-existent. Use whichever describing terms you’d like. Set to make $49 million next year, he has looked like a non-factor.

If Tim Connelly is thinking ahead to roster construction after this season, he certainly has to be questioning whether Towns can be a key piece to a championship roster.

Related: Timberwolves Can’t Overcome Bad KAT, Whining Luka Doncic or Horrible Officiating in Game 3

Given how terribly Towns played Sunday, his night couldn’t get any worse, right? Wrong. Because after the game, during an interview scrum with reporters, KAT put his foot in his mouth, something he’s done time and time again throughout his career.

What was it this time? He told the reporters gathered around him that he takes 1,500 shots per day. When TNT cut back to the “Inside the NBA” crew shortly after, they were laughing at him and calling cap on that number. Embarrassing.

KAT talks about taking 1500 shots a day, the Inside crew says that's 🧢 pic.twitter.com/XeeIhBivEi

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 27, 2024

KAT: “I gotta laugh… I’m putting up up to 1,500 shots per day. I shot so well all playoffs. Confidence is extremely high. And to be having these unfortunate bounces and shots just not going in, it’s tough. It’s tough for sure. Confidence wise, I just have to keep shooting.”

— TNT broadcast cuts back to Inside the NBA —

Draymond: “Hey Ernie, you know what ‘cap’ is? KAT cappin. Ain’t nobody shooting 1500 shots a day, right now.

Kenny: “I never [counted] shots, I [counted] makes. To make 300 in a day takes about 45 minutes. So if you’re taking 1,500, it’s gonna take you about 2.5 hours. And you already practicing… it’s cap.”

Barkley: “The thing that’s funny about him saying that, first of all, he’s lying. Let’s just say hypothetically he was telling the truth. If he’s shooting 1,500 threes, that’s the problem. It’s the types of shots he is getting. That’s the problem. It has nothing to do with him not working on his game. If he’s just out there shooting threes, he’s still 4 for 32.”

Anthony Edwards Followed Karl-Anthony Towns’ Lead

Coming into Game 3, facing a 2-0 deficit, the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar guard said to expect a different type of player. Looking to get back to his slashing and driving ways, he showed some of that and posting a team-high 26 points on 11-of-24 shooting.

Edwards played 43 minutes and appeared he was going to will his team to victory in the 2nd half. A Michael Jordan-esque dunk seemed to get the momentum rolling back in their favor.

SENSATIONAL. pic.twitter.com/yVUzQe81BS

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 27, 2024

Unfortunately the 3rd quarter is where his impact sputtered out for Minnesota on Sunday night, and down the stretch he was unable to make his presence felt. Much like Towns, Edwards has been virtually non-existent by his standards over the first two games.

Related: Sounds Like the Timberwolves Plan to Offer Mike Conley a Lucrative Coaching Job

For it to only come in brief stretches during Game 3 was unfortunate to see, and while getting him off Kyrie Irving should have helped conditioning, it didn’t translate to the stat sheet.

Kyrie and Luka in the fourth:

• 21 points (DAL had 29 team pts)
• 8/10 FG

Ant and KAT in the fourth:

• 9 points
• 2/7 FG

Game was tied after the third. You just aren't going to win with those contrasting splits amongst the stars on both sides.

— Charlie Walton (@CharlieWaltonMN) May 27, 2024

Chris Finch watched first hand as his team found out what it’s like to go up against a pair of closers, and they responded with their top two options sputtering out at the worst time possible. We thought the Minnesota Timberwolves were ready for this moment. But their stars weren’t.

The hope would be that the Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t looking at an offseason until they accomplish another eight wins. Facing the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, dreams of an NBA Finals is just four wins away.

That dream took a hit last night when they lost game one at home, but as they reload for a better game 2 performance, turning the series back in their favor will come down to their big three, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Minnesota Timberwolves have decisions to make this offseason

If they win, Ant will be the next MJ, KAT will have repaired his “soft” image and Rudy will finally have finally put his playoff skeletons to bed. If they lose, we will hear questions all offseason about whether or not Wolves ownership is willing to pay $100 million in luxury tax penalties to keep the core of their roster together.

If Tim Connelly sticks around, his offseason PoBO decisions will center around Karl Anthony Towns. Whether or not he can be retained is probably an ownership decision, and where Glen Taylor falls in that equation, compared to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, remains to be seen.

Happy Timberwolves Ownership Mediation Day to all who celebrate! pic.twitter.com/52VdrIm73m

— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) May 1, 2024

No matter who is running the show and who is footing the bill, paying that type of penalty is a big decision for any NBA owner, which is why they have those penalties in place.

In 2023-24, only the Warriors ($177M), Clippers ($142M) and Suns ($69M) had to pay the type of luxury tax bills that the Wolves are looking at over the next couple of years, while they have three players (KAT, Ant, Rudy) on maximum contracts.

As of now, before the Wolves do anything else this offseason, they are scheduled to pay $49 million in luxury tax penalties, the second highest projection in the NBA behind the Phoenix Suns ($105M).

As you can see, neither the Clippers or Warriors are projected to stay in the luxury tax. That’s because it’s expensive. And the longer you stay in there, the more you pay (repeater tax).

If they move on, Towns is the most likely to go, because he will bring the most back, given his age and unicorn abilities. Bleacher Report seems to think a team the Timberwolves would target, in that scenario, is the Golden State Warriors.

They have done business before (Wiggins/DLo) and the Warriors have the type assets Minnesota would apparently be looking for (Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and/or Moses Moody).

“Having this idea in the realistic category assumes the Warriors would be interested in Karl-Anthony Towns. That may sound like a bit of a stretch, but it wouldn’t be the first time that player and team were connected, and it still feels more likely than the Minnesota Timberwolves moving KAT.

With the way he and the Wolves are playing, a championship is very much in play. And if that happens, you can bet the organization, even if ownership is still in flux, will keep the starting five together.

If, however, the Dallas Mavericks win the conference finals in relatively short order, the front office might have to think about some luxury tax relief. The T-Wolves could get that salary relief, picks and some combination of Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and/or Moses Moody from Golden State.”

Bleacher Report

It would be hard to fathom Minnesota moving on from the last draft pick Flip Saunders made for the Timberwolves. Doing so, after he was a catalyst in multiple games vs the Denver Nuggets might be somewhat perplexing to many, but these tax penalties are no joke.

What if the Minnesota Timberwolves keep Karl-Anthony Towns and eat the tax payment?

And, if he does remain on roster, Minnesota will be held to minimum contract pickups in free agency. If that happens, BR likes Royce O’Neale as a possible option.

“At this point, given how well the Wolves have played this postseason, breaking up the core feels unlikely. They could turn instead to renouncing Kyle Anderson and signing a minimum-contract, title-chasing veteran to eat up some of his minutes.

Royce O’Neale would be an interesting option on that front. Though he doesn’t quite have the size or playmaking ability Anderson has, O’Neale can attack rotating defenses and distribute in a pinch. And he competes on the defensive end.”

Bleacher Report

It seems unlikely that anyone would be too bent out of shape by Anderson being jettisoned, and the Timberwolves could certainly be better for it. How they replace his minutes is something they’ll need to figure out, but multiple options exist on that front.

When the Timberwolves beat the Mavericks 3-1 during their regular season series, the rosters were hardly the same. Doncic didn’t play in all of the games and neither did Kyrie Irving.

Luka Doncic Raves About Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards

That didn’t stop the former from raving about the Wolves on Wednesday prior to game 1. Luka mostly sounded off about rising superstar Anthony Edwards, which is becoming a regular theme throughout league circles.

Luka Doncic called Anthony Edwards an "unbelievable player" and joked that they share similar athleticism.

Luka's full interview before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals: https://t.co/PjNdWxJIxc pic.twitter.com/2bEB9irfkl

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) May 22, 2024

“Unbelievable. Unbelievable player on both sides, doing all of the little things to help his team win. Unbelievable talent obviously. Athleticism wise, we’re similar. Still young, he’s what, 22? Amazing to watch him all the time.”

Related: Denzel Washington and Magic Johnson Almost Helped Save the Timberwolves, Then Glen Taylor Stepped In

Nothing about what Edwards has done on the court has been lost on Timberwolves fans. He continues to impact games on both sides on a nightly basis, and it’s beyond incredible to take in. If the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to get by the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, it will largely be because of the effort Edwards puts out.

Jason Kidd questions Karl-Anthony Towns’ claims that he’s the best big shooter ever

It wasn’t just Doncic that shared thoughts about the Timberwolves though. Former Mavericks player, and current head coach Jason Kidd had things to say as well. He was more focused on Karl Anthony Towns, than Edwards.

He did make sure to stick up for his former teammate, Dirk Nowitzki, when asked about KAT’s self-proclaimed status as the greatest big man shooter ever. I’ve transcribed the video for you below. He also called Karl one of the best big men in the league, today.

On Tuesday, Jason Kidd addressed Karl-Anthony Towns’ previous claim that he is the best big man three-point shooter ever.

“Everyone has a right to their opinion… Dirk was one of the first to start that. So I think Dirk would definitely have something to say.”#Mavericks pic.twitter.com/3SJlMmT9lu

— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) May 22, 2024

“Everyone has a right to their opinion, especially now. He can shoot it. You look at KAT, he’s a very confident young man. He’s one of the best bigs in this league. He does shoot the three at a high rate. He can put it on the floor, he can score. I think he can be one of the top big men shooting. Dirk was one of the first to start that so I think Dirk would definitely have something to say. Dirk opened the door for a lot of the bigs to become shooters.”

Kidd certainly isn’t wrong, and it’s interesting to see the Mavericks have Doncic as their next great superstar. Doncic isn’t the imposing presence that Nowitzki was, but he isn’t a flashy guard either.

Related: 3 Timberwolves vs Mavericks Series Tone Setters to Watch for in Game One

Seeing players like Dallas and Minnesota employ being able to light up the box score and influence games in big moments is something the NBA has trended towards for a while.

How the Minnesota Timberwolves handle their scorers, and how the Dallas Mavericks look to stifle them, is something that the Western Conference Finals will put on full display.

When you think about the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise, Kevin Garnett’s name may be the first to resonate. He was a generational player, and it was his leadership that sent the team to their last Western Conference Final, 20 years ago to the date, on his birthday. If it’s not KG though, then it’s a man recognized by just four letters, Flip.

Flip Saunders and KG were Minnesota Timberwolves basketball for much of two decades, and his presence still floats over the franchise, even a decade after his passing. A winning Timberwolves franchise was Flip Saunders’ dream.

Fulfilling Flip Saunders’ Minnesota Timberwolves dream

Right before he tragically passed away, Flip laid the foundation for what the Wolves have become. And nine years later, you have to believe he’s beaming down on his favorite pro basketball team.

Thinking about this man today… pic.twitter.com/01WSWv7FpL

— Dan Barreiro (@DanBarreiroKFAN) May 20, 2024

On June 25, 2015, the recently rehired Saunders made Karl Anthony Towns the number one overall pick in that year’s NBA Draft. Back then, not only was Flip back running basketball operations in Minnesota, he had recently replaced Rick Adelman on the bench as ‘interim’ head coach (an additional job nobody was sure he would give up).

Saunders then traded for Kevin Garnett and paired a 19-year-old Towns with a now 39-year-old KG. It was time to pass the baton. Of course, the winning didn’t come right away and Saunders died not even one year after he drafted KAT, thanks to non-Hodgkins Lymphoma that took his life just months after diagnosis.

After Flip left, the Timberwolves franchise struggled to carry out his vision, and it nearly all went up in flames when Tom Thibodeau brought traded for Jimmy Butler, who tried to set Saunders dreams on fire. KAT made it through that debacle, though. Then, Gersson Rosas took over, drafted Anthony Edwards, and the roster started to improve. Finally, Tim Connelly found his way to town, traded for Rudy Gobert, and the rest is history.

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns Rose Up When Timberwolves Needed Him Most

Individual accolades are something Towns is accustomed to. He’s been to All-Star Games, won three point contests, and generally been regarded as a transformational offensive big man. Winning as a team isn’t something he’s experienced though, and looking to avoid the same fate Kevin Love experienced in Minnesota, he persisted. Given time to gel with a roster capable of playing both sides of the ball, this is the Towns that Saunders envisioned.

Anthony Edwards is the young guard with swagger and confidence that Flip would have pushed. Rudy Gobert is the battle tested veteran that Saunders could have built a defense around. Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Mike Conley, yep them two, Saunders had to be excited about this roster from his prime viewing spot above.

Now as Minnesota sets their sights on Dallas and a trip to the NBA Finals, they can do something for the first time in franchise history. Towns is coming off two of the best games he has played in his career. He stepped up when the place he has been the longest needed him most. That’s what Saunders hoped he was getting. Now we’re seeing it come to fruition. But there’s still work left to do. So, let’s finish for Flip.

During his nine years as a professional player, Karl-Anthony Towns has seen it all. When the team needed him most, the longest-tenured Timberwolves player delivered a performance fitting for the moment. That’s probably what he was thinking about, as he meditated in the Ball Arena stands before game 7 vs the Denver Nuggets.

Going up against the defending NBA champions, on the birthday of franchise legend Kevin Garnett and on the 20-year anniversary of the last time Minnesota advanced to the Western Conference Finals, it was KAT who came through and pushed them into the next round once again.

Karl-Anthony Towns rises to the occasion for Minnesota Timberwolves in game 7

A man that had endured shortcomings from teammates, head coach turnover, and Jimmy Butler takeover, finally got the opportunity to put the team on his back. With Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert struggling to get anything going, it was Towns who almost single-handedly kept Minnesota in the game, through certain stretches.

His defense on the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was impressive all series long, and while the Nuggets star got his on Sunday, Towns being able to take the matchup while remaining on the floor let Gobert work in other capacities.

KAT: "…being here 9 years I've seen everything and seen it all"
Ant: "Man, fuck them 9 years"
KAT: "Man, fuck 'em' right" pic.twitter.com/zcnWOKhPqI

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 20, 2024

As the post game press conference went on, Karl-Anthony Towns talked of the nine years he had spent with the franchise, and how this was a culmination of all those moments combined. He’s seen it all. He was here when Garnett came back. He was drafted and coached by Flip Saunders, who died less than six months after Karl was drafted.

And man, no doubt Flip is looking down smiling on KAT this morning. Last night is something that Saunders dreamed about when the Wolves drafted Towns No. 1 overall in 2015. Even if all the criticism over the years has been warranted, on the biggest stage, for one night, he shouldered the load when his team needed him most.

Related: Anthony Edwards Gives Chris Finch His Flowers

How Chris Finch lines up the Timberwolves going forward remains to be seen. The Dallas Mavericks are a team that Minnesota has handled throughout the season. They go into the Western Conference Finals as favorites to move onto the NBA Finals.

If that is going to come to fruition though, more performances like the one Sunday night will be commanded of Towns. He was dominant offensively, and remained available defensively. For a team that clicks when he plays smart, it couldn’t have been a more perfect set of events.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the primary defender on Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic in back-to-back series, credibly guarding Hall of Famers with vastly different skills while also averaging 19 points on 52/44/83 shooting.

And he put the nail in Denver's coffin: pic.twitter.com/ApVwma4ILo

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 20, 2024

Minnesota watched their big man get into foul trouble, and more than one of those picked up came through less than ideal decision making. Still though. Towns carried enough poise to remain in throughout the end of the game, and it was both he and Edwards that were able to embrace on the court postgame as they got the job done.

Related: Ant Said it, but Karl-Anthony Towns Forced Charles Barkley to Bring His Ass to Minnesota

No matter how this storyline plays out, the Minnesota Timberwolves are Anthony Edwards’ team. They have been all season, and Towns’ presence or the addition of Gobert have never changed that. For a guy that has seen it all, while having gone through it all, there couldn’t have been a bigger or better moment than what Towns gave his team on Sunday night.

If and when Minnesota keeps winning, expecting Towns to remain in the middle of it makes sense. He’s never going to get the accolades a few of his teammates will, but there’s no one who more understands what this means to the state and franchise than he does.

Eight more wins are what’s left, and he’ll be chasing all of them.

Over the years, the Minnesota Timberwolves have seen differing levels of ineptitude, throughout the organization. From the lineup, front office, coaching staff and trickling down to players. For the majority of their 25 year history the Wolves have been a mess. But not anymore. Now, there may not be a team in this league walking more lockstep and in harmony than the one in Minneapolis.

On a night when the Timberwolves could not find their footing and their 22-year-old superstar played his ‘B’ game — against the defending champions — head coach Chris Finch, assistant Micah Nori, and the rest of the coaching staff the squad locked in, patient. Then, when the opening presented itself in the 3rd quarter, they struck. Like an unstoppable wave of fury.

Anthony Edwards praises Minnesota Timberwolves’ head coach Chris Finch

At the postgame podium, during one of the most entertaining postgame press conferences in league history, Anthony Edwards (with KAT right next to him) discussed a myriad of vibrant topics. But when the conversation turned to who deserves the flowers for the first Western Conference Finals appearance for the Wolves in 20 years, Ant had one man on his mind: head coach, Chris Finch.

Anthony Edwards discussing why he thinks Chris Finch is the best coach in the NBA. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. pic.twitter.com/v7eZMWG1za

— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) May 20, 2024

“It starts with our head coach, Chris Finch. He comes in every day. He comes in every day. He’s thinking of ways to get me and KAT open looks. He’s thinking of ways to get Mike and Rudy open looks. He’s thinking of ways to get Jaden involved. He’s trying to keep Naz in it to get him involved. He’s just a great coach and he don’t sugarcoat things with anybody.

If KAT f**cking up, he gon’ get on Kat. If I’m f**cking up he gon’ get on me. If Rudy f**cking up, he gon’ get on anybody that’s messing up throughout the game, and I think that’s what makes him the best coach in the NBA to me because no matter who it is, no matter how high the player is on the pole he gon’ get on you from start to finish. It starts with the head of the snake and and he’s the head of our snake. We all listen to him, look up to him, and he does a great job of making sure we’re ready to go every night.”

[Side Bar] Once again, in the midst of fun answers and smiles, Anthony Edwards showed a level of leadership during this presser that is well beyond his years. For a player that is still coming into his own, at just 22 years old, on a night when he might have been the worst starter on the floor for most of the game, spent most of this press conference praising everyone else.

Related: Comparing Anthony Edwards’ Playoff Resume to MJ, LeBron and Kobe

A lot of the NBA world frowned upon the Timberwolves’ hiring of Chris Finch, a few years ago. They hired him midseason off of another team’s bench. No interim, no search, no process. Then GM Gerson Rosas knew who he wanted, and he’s the only guy he called. Now, we are starting to see why.

Not every coach could bring a team, with this much talent, together the way Finchy has. But not only is he a connector and amazing at handling egos, he’s a master of X’s and O’s too. He’s the one who had to bring Tim Connelly’s modern twin tower vision to life, when they acquired Rudy Gobert. It was Finch who had to figure out how to make that work, all while selling a defense-first philosophy to a team full of offensive talent.

Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns own the postgame moment

Edwards certainly wasn’t worried about the nine years Karl Anthony Towns has spent in purgatory with the Timberwolves, and the pair of them found a question about losing beyond comical.

Minnesota sports fans have seen enough heartbreak, and while neither Edwards or Towns have been here long enough to experience all of it, they feel they paid their penance and now is their time.

"How much you want us to lose, gawd DAMN"
LMAOOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/Sd9zKRus8M

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 20, 2024

As the pair turn the page and focus on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, they will do so as favorites and can advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Eight wins separate Minnesota from an eventual parade, and making that happen would be something the entire state could get behind.

Related: Timberwolves Open as West Finals Favorite vs Dallas Mavericks

After his patellar tendon tear that has Micah Nori taking more of a front man role, it’s clear that Finch remains plenty involved for Minnesota. It’s something his players see as well, and continuing to do the job for their head coach appears to be more than a simple motivating factor.

Immediately following the Minnesota Timberwolves Game 5 defeat against the Denver Nuggets he took aim at Rudy Gobert, yet again, blasting the reigning Defensive Player of the Year for a poor performance defending MVP Nikola Jokic in game 5.

Draymond Green goes after Rudy Gobert again

Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works with Draymond. Speaking on his own show, Green takes aim at Gobert in a big way. Without any sort of an understanding that NBA positions are more fluid now than they ever have been in history, it’s not shocking that Green finds himself on the way out of the league, and a pair of teammates that carried him to relevance slowly fading into the background.

“There’s a center who won DPOY and we asking KAT to go guard the center”

—@Money23Green on KAT guarding Jokić pic.twitter.com/i1wedhirxE

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) May 17, 2024

Draymond: “We sitting here breaking down KAT having to stop Joker, who’s a center, and the defensive player of the year is on your team. Very interesting how the cookie crumbles. It’s like, if Marcus Smart won defensive player of the year back then, which he did, and then they’re like, ‘But Jaylen [Brown], you gotta go guard Steph [Curry].’ But Marcus Smart’s a point guard. Marcus Smart, you won defensive player of the year, you gotta guard Steph, right?”

Co-Host: “You can’t help yourself, can you?”

Draymond: “I love the game within the game, more than anything. When I’m watching these games, I’m watching the game within the game. And I can’t help but notice, like, there is a center that won defensive player of the year and we asking KAT to go guard the center.”

The Draymond Green Show

Related: Draymond Green is so Obsessed with Rudy Gobert it’s Borderline Pathetic

To a certain extent, Green wasn’t wrong. Rudy Gobert got beat like a drum by the Denver Nuggets all night long in game 5. But any real analysis can only shed so much blame onto the “Stifle Tower”. Minnesota has been at their best defensively, this series, when Gobert is playing a rover position, off Nikola Jokic.

Minnesota Timberwolves play team defense, not Rudy Gobert defense

That way, Rudy can help around the rim, like he always does, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid play a more aggressive 1v1 defensive style on Jokic that takes away his first move. Gobert and others then choose their outlets to take away from the Nuggets when Jokic has to pass.

Keeping Karl Anthony Towns on Nikola Jokic, as opposed to Rudy Gobert, is a priority for Minny not just because it keeps Rudy available to roam, but also because KAT is a legitimately a better Jokic defender.

If it's Rudy here, Jokic is taking him down to the rim and scoring. pic.twitter.com/SUSUFmUZbF

— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) May 17, 2024

Aaron Gordon for three? Go for it. Jamal Murray, that outlet needs to be covered. Make their depth players beat you. But in Game 5, Karl Anthony Towns ran into foul trouble early, which forced Rudy to guard Jokic. And, as we have learned, that is a recipe for disaster.

Biggest focus point pada penjagaan Jokic di Game 6:

1) AG-Jokic PnR: No switch. KAT stay dengan Jokic
2) Jokic post-ups: double team dari “1 pass away” seperti di video.

As soon as Conley commit, lalu McD rotate ke KCP, lalu Reid bantu.

Team effort.

pic.twitter.com/sgpsNgLHue

— Box Out Indonesia (@boxoutindonesia) May 17, 2024

But not because of Rudy’s defensive acumen. More so because it makes the Nuggets a lot more difficult to guard, in general. Suggesting this defensive game plan is a knock against Gobert is a gross misunderstanding of the Wolves’ defensive scheme. Draymond Green, another former DPOY, should know that.

Ultimately, a huge key to Minnesota beating Denver on Sunday night is for Karl Anthony Towns to stay on the floor and out of foul trouble so he can guard Nikola Jokic. Not because KAT can necessarily stop Jokic more effectively than Rudy, but because it’s best for the team if their DPOY committed to making the defense better elsewhere.

Related: A-Rod, Marc Lore Acting and Partying Like Majority Owners of the Timberwolves

The best players are willing to do whatever it takes to make their teams better. Rudy isn’t worried about stopping the reigning MVP. He’s worried about winning. And that’s why the Timberwolves play the defense they play

Denver sets two high screens for Jamal Murray. Jokic is the second screener which puts KAT in the action, Gordon spaced in the corner. KAT with half of a hedge instead funneling to Gobert at the rim and that's *checks notes* Game 1. pic.twitter.com/34Hxl1nAFE

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) May 17, 2024

Rudy’s best game of the series may have been Game 6 when he contributed just 10 points. The way that opened Rudy Gobert to operate defensively was something that Jokic couldn’t contend with, and it permeated throughout the unit as Anthony Edwards shut down Jamal Murray as well.

But Green isn’t worried about the Wolves defense playing well. He just wants to see Gobert get beat by Joker as much as possible so he can go on his podcast and on TNT to make fun of him. He serves his personal agenda, and he’s jealous of Rudy Gobert’s four DPOY awards.

Related: 5 Biggest Heroes from Timberwolves’ Game Six Win Over Nuggets

So it’s nice of Green to constantly chime in whenever there’s an opportunity to come at Gobert, but ultimately his offseason started quite a while ago, and he may want to watch more game film if he’s trying to set up a respectable post-playing career. The hate will only take him so far.

Going up against Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Minnesota Timberwolves were going to need everyone firing on all cylinders if they were going to push this series to seven games. The defending champions have been there, done that, and it appeared that Mike Malone’s squad was ready to go in for the kill. But then, the Wolves stepped up and their stars shined brightest.

1. Anthony Edwards proved it for Minnesota Timberwolves

It was presumably going to take a Michael Jordan type of moment for the Minnesota Timberwolves to extend the series. Anthony Edwards answered that call and did so without needing to put up a gaudy stat line. His 27 points weren’t exceptional, but the Timberwolves guard was a large reason that Jamal Murray couldn’t find success, despite his claims to the contrary.

Anthony Edwards, SHOWTIME! 🤩

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/5zpzuDYgUZ

— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2024

Edwards told Nuggets staffers he would see them for Game 7, and he delivered on the promise. Checking out with more than eight minutes still left in the 4th quarter, Edwards threw up a “7” to notate what was coming, and you can bet he’ll be ready for that action as well.

2. Karl-Anthony Towns was Minnesota Timberwolves’ sneaky play

When Karl Anthony Towns remains under control, he is among the best players in the NBA. Minnesota frustrated both Jokic and Murray early in the series, and it wasn’t a coincidence that their performance faltered because of it. As Towns experienced some of that on his own, he too looked at a downtick in production.

Playing 29 minutes, Towns had only ten points, but he contributed 13 rebounds and most importantly was never in foul trouble. By locking down Jokic defensively, and staying smart about it, he allowed Micah Nori and Chris Finch the opportunity to move pieces around and let Rudy Gobert work as the last line of defense. In his least impactful offensive showing, Towns was at his best.

Related: Timberwolves Cook Nuggets to Force Game 7

3. Mike Conley Gives Minnesota Timberwolves leadership they need

As Edwards mentioned postgame, one massive key for the Timberwolves was the return of Mike Conley. Missing Game 5 due to an achilles injury, he was back on the court as the floor general. While NBA teams have much more fluid positions than they ever have previously, no one resembles a true point guard than Conley.

.@JonKrawczynski: "What do you think led to the response that you guys had tonight?"

Ant: "Shit, we got Mike Conley back. That was it" pic.twitter.com/WRFalxmCWl

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 17, 2024

Being able to direct the offensive game flow and keep the group composed, you can see the veteran leadership permeate from his position on the court. Conley will get a couple more days to rest before Game 7, and Gobert has already instructed him he’s never allowed to leave him again.

4. Chris Finch’s adjustments were all Minnesota Timberwolves

In a long series the adjustments are virtually all about counter-punching. The Timberwolves had a flustering defensive presence that again looked like the first two games of the series. They were intense while no player drew more than three fouls, and three of the five starters recorded just one.

The officiating allowed Minnesota an opportunity to be physical worked in their favor, but the Timberwolves played within themselves to utilize it. A swarming defensive presence allowed the offensive side of things to take care of themselves. There’s no other way to describe a 45-point drubbing as anything but dominance.

5. Pregame locker room highlight hype video

Less than an hour before game 6 tipped off at a rowdy Target Center on Thursday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff ushered the team into a room that had a big screen ready for someone to press play.

According to The Athletic, there was doubt and nervousness throughout the roster when the team entered that room, an anxiety that was no longer weighing on the squad when they exited. Why? A highlight package from games one and two, with good background music.

The integration of music as a backdrop to the clips was new, with Chicago-born rapper G Herbo among those featured. Those sounds, they said, had a way of striking up the emotions.

“I think the last three games, we (were) all down on ourselves, just trying to point the finger, blame somebody,” said Edwards, who had 27 points, four assists, four rebounds and a team-best plus-43 rating. “And then today before the game, the coaches and the whole staff did a great job of putting a clip together (of) the plays that we made in the two games that we won against these guys. Everybody started to believe after that little edit that they put together, and I could tell the energy shifted. …So that was big time. I told them, ‘That was big time putting that edit together.’”

This, in essence, was their version of “Rocky II.” That’s the Timberwolves’ hope, anyway.

The Athletic