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Getting ready for the latest NBA season is crucial to catching all the best matchups and your favorite team, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves. NBA League Pass not only provides live access to games all season long but also the ability to watch other basketball content on the service. Learn more about the NBA League Pass price, plans, and bundles here to see if it’s the right streaming option for you. 

The Timberwolves’ regular season is complete, so make sure you have a way to watch NBA League Pass to catch every Minnesota postseason game. Check out this week’s game schedule below:

• Tuesday, May 6th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ 9:30 pm ET
• Thursday, May 8th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ 8:30 pm ET
• Saturday, May 10th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ 8:30 pm ET
• Monday, May 12th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ 10:00 pm ET
• Wednesday, May 14th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ TBD
• Sunday, May 18th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ TBD
• Tuesday, May 20th: Timberwolves vs. Warriors @ TBD

*Note: NBA League Pass plans are currently at a discount, so take full advantage of that!

Check Out: How To Get An NBA League Pass Free Trial in 2025

How Much Does NBA League Pass Cost?

After the seven-day free trial for new subscribers, NBA League Pass has several subscription options. These include the base subscription, the premium, and a team pass that provides access to one team, like the Minnesota Timberwolves, for example. Check out the full breakdown of prices and features below: 

You can also sign up for NBA League Pass on other streaming services. If you’re already a Fubo or Amazon Prime subscriber, this coverage is available as an add-on for $16.99/month and $14.99/month, respectively. 

What Does NBA League Pass Offer?

Home for all things NBA and basketball, you can enjoy lots of content through the NBA League Pass. New subscribers can sign up for a seven-day free trial to test out the various types of content listed below: 

• Live and on-demand games: Access to every feed, including home, away, mobile view, and alternative streams
• Condensed games: Catch up on the best moments with multiple formats
• NBA TV: 24/7 access to the NBA TV channel with studio coverage, original shows, and select NBA and WNBA games
• Game archives: Full game archives from the 2012-2013 season to the present
• In-game overlays: Player stats, other game scores, live odds
• Offline viewing: Download games with a Premium subscription

What Is Not on NBA League Pass?

While NBA League Pass has a lot of content to watch, some games and events have altered viewing options. Nationally televised games on channels like ABC, ESPN, or TNT can only be watched about three hours after the game ends. Local team games televised in your area (available on regional sports networks or over-the-air stations) can only be watched around three days after the live game. NBA Playoff games after round 1 and the NBA Finals games are blacked out for fans in the US and Canada. The games are available to stream three hours after the game ends.

Check Out: Paramount Plus Sports: Is It Worth It for Minnesota Sports Fans?

What Devices Can I Use to Watch NBA League Pass?

You can use several devices to watch the NBA League Pass and the Minnesota Timberwolves. These include iPhones, Android phones, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, etc. The full compatibility list is included below: 

• iOS
• VisionOS
• Android
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Xbox One
• Xbox Series X
• Roku
• Chromecast
• Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Fire Stick
• Hisense TV
• Comcast
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Desktop

Is NBA League Pass Worth it for Minnesota Fans?

As Timberwolves fans, there are positives and negatives to subscribing to the NBA League Pass. Since this service does not broadcast local games live, you won’t be able to watch the Timberwolves at home unless you have local network access. 

That being said, you can watch all of their away games, as NBA League Pass is great for out-of-market games. The best way to determine if the NBA League Pass is worth it is to take advantage of the seven-day free trial. Peruse all the exclusive content before you make a seasonal commitment. 

Related: Hulu Live TV Price, Plans, and Bundles: Is It the Right Choice for Minnesota Sports Fans?

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Best for The Minnesota Timberwolves

Starting at $79.99/mo

Best for Exclusive Content

Starting at $76.99/mo

Best for NBA Coverage

Starting at $109.99/season

The NBA season will soon be in full swing, with the Minnesota Timberwolves taking another crack at the NBA Finals. As you prepare for the regular season, make sure you have a way to enjoy every game. Learn how to watch Minnesota Timberwolves games all 2025 season here. 

The Timberwolves are officially in the playoffs, so catch the game and cheer on your favorite NBA team. Learn how to watch the next week of matchups for the Timberwolves here.

• 5/19: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 1) @ 8:30 pm ET
• 5/22: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 2) @ 8:30 pm ET
• 5/24: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 3) @ 8:30 pm ET
• 5/26: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 4) @ 8:30 pm ET
• 5/28: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 5) @ 8:30 pm ET
• 5/30: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 6) @ 8:30 pm ET
• 6/1: Timberwolves vs. Thunder (Game 7) @ 8:00 pm ET

Related: How to Watch NBA League Pass: Prices, Streaming Services, and Upcoming Games

Where to Stream Minnesota Timberwolves Games

NBA games are broadcast on several channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, FOX, etc. While cable provides most of these channels, you can enjoy NBA matchups all season through several streaming services. Some of these options are included below. 

How to Watch Minnesota Timberwolves on FuboTV

The home for sports-centered content, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and the rest of the NBA is FuboTV. The service has access to several featured NBA channels, including ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, FOX, etc. Fubo offers two subscription tiers: Pro and Elite, starting at $84.99/month. New users will receive a seven-day free trial, and if you are ever unhappy with the service you can cancel anytime. 

Check Out: How To Get An NBA League Pass Free Trial

How to Watch Minnesota Timberwolves on Hulu + Live TV

Need a way to stream NBA games alongside your favorite movies and TV series? Try using Hulu + Live TV, which provides all your favorite Timberwolves matchups and on-demand content in one place. Subscribers also have the option to bundle with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for even more action. The service starts at $81.99/month and provides a three-day free trial for new users. 

How to Watch Minnesota Timberwolves on NBA League Pass

Die-hard NBA and Timberwolves fans may want to check out NBA League Pass, which provides on-demand NBA games all season. It is available in the United States and internationally through different services depending on your location. NBA League Pass costs $109.99 per season, so you can watch the Timberwolves for every game, and it can also be bought as an add-on through FuboTV

Check Out: FuboTV Price, Plans and Bundles: Is It the Right Choice for Minnesota Sports Fans?

FAQs

Related: 3 New Names Linked To Minnesota Timberwolves Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline

After dominating the first half and building a 69-47 lead into halftime, the Wolves came out of the break looking like a completely different team. They were outscored 36-23 in the 3rd quarter, 32-23 in the 4th and 14-8 in overtime. Dumb decisions, turnovers and immature basketball is what led to such an embarrassing loss.

Kyle Anderson’s late game technical foul

But when the game was over, too many of the Timberwolves players, and even All-Star game head coach, Chris Finch, wanted to talk more about a late Kyle Anderson technical foul call than how in the hell they blew such a huge lead vs a bottom feeder opponent in the first place.

Here’s the technical foul call in question. It happens with just over one-minute left in the 4th quarter, with the Wolves leading 115-112. You’ll see Anderson yelling at the ref in the top-left corner of the screen, prior to the tech being called. Below the video, you can read the complaints of both Kyle Anderson and Chris Finch.

Kyle Anderson was hit with a bench technical with less than 1:30 remaining 😳

pic.twitter.com/lKM4NSWsZT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2024

“I couldn’t believe it. We’re focusing on the wrong thing. The only ones that used profanity I’m out there all the time; I heard profanity all game being yelled at the refs. I didn’t use profanity. I said, ‘that’s an and-1’. [So] give me a tech? I thought that was a little weird. I don’t know.”

“I think he pulled the trigger a little too early, honestly. All we were saying on the bench was, ‘it’s a foul, and an and-1’. Nobody used profanity, nothing malicious. Just caught up in the moment of the game. That was a quick trigger. I don’t think a veteran ref is calling a tech on that. Nothing to do with the game. But he did.”

Kyle Anderson

Related: Anthony Edwards Fed Up With ‘Cheatin A** Refs’, Welcomes Future Fine

“It seemed to me like an incredibly quick and unnecessary, at that point in time, call. Just reacting to a play in the moment that I didn’t think was over-demonstrative. I don’t think there was an excessive discussion or language used or anything like that.”

Chris Finch

The Wolves claim they were surprised by the technical foul call and that they didn’t hear a warning, like the crew chief claims they were. But why Kyle Anderson wants to talk so much about whether or not he used profanity makes no sense. Who cares, the refs mentioned nothing about profanity in their postgame explanation.

They said Kyle Anderson was complaining too much. They warned him, he kept going, so they gave him a tech: “After being instructed to stop complaining, Anderson continued to complain so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical for continuous complaining.”

Was the timing bad? Yes. Does it matter? No.

Minnesota Timberwolves need to move on from ref drama

I have a crazy idea. but I think it just might work. How about we stop complaining and focus on playing better basketball? If the Minnesota Timberwolves would stop worrying so much about whether or not the refs are conspiring against them, the answer to that question wouldn’t matter.

You are a 35-win basketball team BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK. Even if the refs are working against you, more than for you, you’ve proven that it doesn’t matter as long as you play well. I get the general idea of all the complaining and ‘working the refs’. It’s how superstars get more calls, or so they believe.

But in the Timberwolves’ case, it isn’t working. In fact, it’s making things worse. Anthony Edwards took his complaints public and it cost $40K. Kyle Anderson is getting T’d up from the bench in huge end-of-game moments. So, it’s time to pull back. Control what you can control, which is playing better basketball.

Related: Local Insider Says Reports Timberwolves Offered 4 Picks for Tyus Jones are 100% False

Focus on the fact that you blew a 23 point lead, not on how the refs supposedly screwed you AFTER you had allowed Chicago back into the game in the first place. Why was last night’s contest even in a place where that technical foul call meant anything or that Kyle Anderson cared to complain that much.

With just over one minute left at the United Center on Tuesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves should have been leading by 30 points. The G-Leaguers and bench warmers should have been in the game. Nobody should have cared enough to get T’d up about anything that late. How about we focus more on that shit? Listen to Rudy Gobert, maybe…

“We got to find a way to forget about the score and just be dogs for 48 minutes. Also, once again, too much talking to the officials. They’re not going to get better. I think we got to focus on ourselves.”

Rudy Gobert

Bill Simmons calls for NBA to start flexing Wolves into more primetime slots

On the most recent episode of his self-titled podcast Bill and his guest, Joe House (The Ringer) named the Timberwolves as one of four teams the NBA should start flexing into national TV games, when the scheduled game ends up not being a good one.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Depth Chart and Injury Report – 2024

For example, Golden State is continually being shoved in front of national audiences, even though the roster is a skeleton of the super team it once was. If the Warriors are on the schedule for TNT or ESPN, on a given night, and there’s another matchup that’s almost guaranteed to be more exciting, why not swap them out?

Simmons: “[The NBA] should audible and flex [games]. We want more Oklahoma City, they’ve been the League Pass MVPs. More Minnesota.”

House: “Love Minnesota, love to see them.”

Simmons: “Like last night, they had Golden State vs New Orleans on ABC. Minnesota vs Boston, which was one of the best games of the year, is just on league pass. Why didn’t they flip those? Why didn’t they use common sense and say, ‘what’s the better game’?”

Bill Simmons Podcast (4-minute mark – 1/12/24)

Related: Where the Minnesota Timberwolves Stand in Latest NBA Power Rankings

Give the people what they want – More Minnesota Timberwolves

Simmons is right and I’m a little bit surprised the NBA doesn’t flex regular season games throughout their national TV schedule. Nobody wants to watch the Golden State Warriors get blown out by the New Orleans Pelicans and, as Joe and Bill discuss, the league is in a transition period right now. There are young blossoming stars, like Anthony Edwards, all over the league.

House: “This is a transition moment in the league. Kevin Durant is old, LeBron James is old and Steph Curry is old.”

Simmons: “Old stars, but old.”

House: “Yes, still the most important stars. But we are transitioning. And so I want to see other teams. I don’t want to see the Warriors anymore. I’m tired of the Warriors. I’m done.”

Simmons: “So the Warriors on ABC last night wasn’t too exciting for you?”

House: “Well, it delivered exactly what I expected. The Warriors can’t compete with the Pelicans and the didn’t.”

How bad is it, right now, with the nationally televised games? Great question. Maybe ask Reggie Miller, who thinks there are a lot of people out there who still do not not who Anthony Edwards is.

Reggie Miller said a lot of people don't know about Anthony Edwards. 🫠 pic.twitter.com/7wXclHpcTS

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 12, 2024

Is that true? No probably not. I’m not exactly sure what Reggie was smoking before let this take slip off his tongue. Of course, Ant would be more well-known if he was in a bigger market. But there are other ways that the NBA could shine more light on the mid-market superstars, too.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Contracts and Salary Cap 2023-24

One of those ways is to take Simmons’ advice and start flexing bad pre-scheduled primetime games out with matchups that make more sense.

On Tuesday morning, the Wolves are comfortably sitting atop the Western Conference, 3 games ahead of the 2nd place Oklahoma City Thunder and 3.5 games in front of the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

West standings update ‼️

Clippers win their 8th straight 👀

For more, download the NBA App:
📲 https://t.co/oRfhdB8ZfO pic.twitter.com/HyVCIlLQ5N

— NBA (@NBA) December 19, 2023

But just as recently as last week, doubters were aplenty, especially after the Timberwolves took an L vs the Pelicans. It was their first loss in seven attempts but it was also the first of 15-straight games vs opponents with a > .500 record.

Related: Timberwolves Should Save Tyus Jones from Wizards Dumpster Fire

Minnesota Timberwolves back on a hot streak

In response, the Minnesota Timberwolves have won three straight, two blowouts over the Mavericks and Pacers, both of which are sinch playoff teams. Then, last night in Miami vs the Heat, they made Jimmy Butler question everything he thought he knew about his former franchise.

Karl-Anthony Towns rebound over Jimmy Butler + lob pass to Rudy Gobert for the dunk pic.twitter.com/TYcs9kSYXp

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) December 19, 2023

Jimmy literally seemed like a different person last night and left the court postgame faster than the buzzer could finish going off. For whatever reason, Butler wasn’t in as big of a hurry to leave the court a couple nights earlier, after he hit a game winner as time expired against one of his other past teams, the Chicago Bulls.

No such opportunity last night. Not with Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker guarding him all night. Oh you don’t think defense is played in the NBA?

Anthony Edwards outstanding defensive possession, good defense on Jimmy Butler pic.twitter.com/kh7wv0GgME

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) December 19, 2023

The Wolves are the best defensive team in the league and they’ll make you rethink that stereotype. They have made it clear they take pride in crushing teams’ spirits defensively, and using great defense to get easy baskets on the offensive end. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s called great basketball.

Related: Twins and Bally Sports North are Done; Wolves and Wild are Next

This is the 2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves in one play. pic.twitter.com/Z4BwJOxZvs

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 19, 2023

Jaden McDaniels block, great defense on Tyler Herro all possesion pic.twitter.com/oMhoER4t51

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) December 19, 2023

Offensively, the Timberwolves have so much talent that they can literally (and do) pick who will step up each given night, and let them cook. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are both gonna get their 25-30 points and, some nights, either one will go off for 40.

But in the win vs Dallas on Thursday, it was Naz Reid, who scored 31 off the bench and dumped in 7 huge three pointers as the Timberwolves went from being blown out in the first half to blowing the Mavs out in the 2nd.

This team is way better at the front of the roster and so, so, so much deeper than any other team in Minnesota Timberwolves history, including the ’03-’04 team (more on them later). Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are bona-fide starters in this league, that are coming off the bench for the Wolves.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves schedule 2023: TV, channel, and more

And both understand and accept their roles. Hell, Naz Reid chose to come off the bench for Minnesota, signing a contract extension in the offseason, when he could have taken more money to start somewhere else. Again, this team is just built different.

This Timberwolves team can cure your Minnesota sports fan PTSD

Are you a Minnesota sports fan who’s always waiting for the next shoe to drop? One of those who believes that, even when life in this sports market feels good, something bad is always around the corner?

I’m that fan too. But this Wolves team cured me weeks ago. At this point, it doesn’t matter how far behind they fall in the first half, the 2nd comeback is as inevitable as death and taxes are.

Rarely do we see a major sports team in this market that has so much talent, paired with even more swagger, that no matter how well opponents are playing or how big of a lead they get, none of it matters. When the Wolves decide to get serious and turn it on, the other team is so outmatched that they have no control over the inevitable takeover.

Want proof? The Wolves are 9-2 in games where they lose the 1st quarter. No other team in the NBA has more than 5 such victories. The 2nd half dominance is so apparent that, by the time these games end, opposing players look completely defeated.

When the moments have gotten bigger, the 2023-24 Timberwolves have risen to the occasion over and over and over again. Just like they did last night. On the road in a hostile Miami environment that was rocking, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves who hit all the big shots and answered anything the “Heat Culture” threw at them. Just watch the last three minutes and see for yourself.

The last 3 minutes of the Timberwolves vs Heat game today was pure entertainment 🍿🔥 pic.twitter.com/oGt8C3Guww

— Carter🐐⛈️❤️‍🔥 (@CarterAntFan) December 19, 2023

If you don’t start paying attention, you’ll live with Minnesota sports fan regret

All you need, in order to fall in love with this Wolves team, is to watch them play for one 3rd and/or 4th quarter. They like to get off to slow starts, but they have a 2nd half switch unlike anything I’ve seen on the local sports landscape, since maybe the 2009 or 1998 Vikings.

Related: Timberwolves Just Had the Best Month of Any Non-Football Pro Team in MN Sports History

In the future, people will talk about the 2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves like they do those Vikings teams, or the 03-04 Wolves, who went to the Western Conference finals with Garnett, Sprewell and Cassell. That’s how dominant the Minnesota Timberwolves are, to start this season and disbelievers or doubters will regret not watching these games.

I mean, the early 90’s Vikings were terrible. Imagine being the guy who refused to turn on the 1998 Vikings, because of those prior losing seasons. Or the gal who boycotted 2009 because she couldn’t handle her range of emotions seeing Brett Favre in purple.

Because I’ve watched all 25 games so far and I know ball. I know what a great basketball team looks like. And without a doubt, this is the best team in Minnesota Timberwolves history. You can believe me now or find out for yourself later.

continuing to make history. 😈 pic.twitter.com/tzDjH00nNI

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 19, 2023

Better than the 2003-2004 Timberwolves?

The ’03-’04 team was really good but they lacked high-end offensive talent and the best players were already on the downslope of their career trajectory. Let’s be honest, nobody even remembers what happened to Sam Cassell or Latrell Sprewell, after the Wolves historic Western Conference finals run that season.

The only people still disbelieving, doubting or hating the ’23-’24 Wolves are those who haven’t been watching them. So if that’s you, it’s time to change. If only for one or two nights. Go against your best judgement and flip them on for one 2nd half. Give them a chance, before it’s too late and the bandwagon has already left the station.

Rudy Gobert is so back

There are many factors that play into the Wolves’ hot start, but one of the main contributors is Rudy Gobert’s return defensive player of the year form.

Rudy Gobert is unreal pic.twitter.com/kHNvnjpG65

— AlexHoops (@AlexHoops_) November 29, 2023

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns Revival Means Everything for Timberwolves Future

The Wolves currently rank 3rd in the NBA in team defense, allowing 106.2 points per game, only behind the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Three of their players currently rank in the top-5 of all NBA players in defensive win shares. Anthony Edwards is 5th, Karl-Anthony Towns is 3rd and Rudy Gobert is 1st.

When the Minnesota Timberwolves made the move for Gobert, giving up one of the biggest packages in NBA history, they did so expecting to get the best defensive player in the league and the 3x DPOY. In his first year, Gobert failed to live up to the expectations, and even had fans wondering if the team was better without him.

This year, it has been a completely different story, and it’s making all the difference for the best team in the west. Gobert’s impact has been on full display all season. In the Wolves’ most recent contest vs the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rudy put up 17 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks.

Rudy Gobert for NBA Defensive Player of the Year?

Late in the game (as seen in the clip above), Gobert locked down the paint and had Chet Holmgren looking completely clueless. Rudy’s playing with a different kind of passion this season and it shows in that clip.

Related: Rudy Gobert is Who Timberwolves Thought He Was

Can Rudy Gobert win Defensive player of the year? The sportsbooks say yes. According to FanDuel.com, Gobert is a pretty heavy favorite to win his 4th career DPOY.

If Rudy Gobert continues playing at this level, he gives the Wolves the chance to beat any team in the league… maybe even a real shot at a title.

Sure, decisions need to be made on D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley. But that’s why our new high profile owners put on some big market masks and robbed the Denver Nuggets of their lauded, underpaid President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly. Patrick Beverley is on for another year. Jaden McDaniels is expected to take a huge step forward on offense.

Slapped by Sportsbook of Reality

Even if the Wolves were to keep DLo and run it back next season, they should still take a step forward, right? Not if you ask a couple of the most well known sportsbooks on the internet, which have just released the betting odds for the 2023 NBA Finals winners. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have the Minnesota Timberwolves sitting at 10th (+5500) in the Western Conference.

The way-too-early 2023 NBA Finals odds have dropped @FDSportsbook ???? pic.twitter.com/1dbS3Qjvsj

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) June 17, 2022

Timberwolves are 55-1 to win the 2022-23 NBA title, per DraftKings sports book pic.twitter.com/fUR8xiaFjo

— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) June 17, 2022

Remember, the Wolves finished 7th in the West last season, the first team left out of the conventional playoff bracket. They beat the LA Clippers in round 1 of the play-in tournament and advanced to the 7th seed in the final postseason bracket.

So instead of being on the rise, these early odds have KAT, Ant and the gang taking a big step back. On the bright side, if you disagree with the various sportsbooks, you can make a lot of money by jumping any state line and putting your money where your mouth is. A $100 bet will make you $5,500 at either of the sportsbooks named above. And I’m sure many others.

Explain yourself, Vegas

Some of the Wolves’ projected fall off next season has nothing to do with anything they’ve done or haven’t done. It’s about who others in the West are expected to get back.

The Clippers, for example, will get Kawhi Leonard back to pair with Paul George. Denver will get Jamal Murray back. The Pelicans SHOULD get Zion Williams back, who would enter a lineup already touting CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram.

I question the Utah Jazz but that could just be bias. If they hold onto Donovan Mitchell, there’s no reason to think they will take a big step back. At the end of the day, the Western Conference is going to be a dog fight. Welcome to the Minnesota fire, Tim Connelly.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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EPISODE SUMMARY

On Episode 12 the guys play word association with each NBA Playoff series. They look at which teams are most impacted by the lack of Home Court Advantage. And, of course, plenty of bets.

Friday’s Best Bets

If the Timberwolves are still set on acquiring Booker, do they have enough assets to make the Suns blink, even? Or has Booker officially priced him out of joining the Timberwolves, based on his performance inside the bubble?

Devin Booker’s season:

26.6 PPG
6.5 APG
4.2 RPG
49% FG
35% 3PT
92% FT

Bubble stats
30.5 PPG – 6.0 APG – 4.9 RPG

Only 23 years old…salute to Devin Booker on a great season ? pic.twitter.com/FVXWkvL51M

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) August 14, 2020

WHAT CAN THE WOLVES OFFER?

After trading for D’Angelo Russell, the Wolves find themselves a little short on assets. Thankfully, Brooklyn made the playoffs so the Wolves have TWO first round picks in the upcoming October draft. One of those picks will be in the lottery (because the Timberwolves sucked again last season). Post-bubble, those picks alone won’t be enough to get Phoenix to answer the phone.

Josh Okogie represents one potential trade chip for the Timberwolves. After some early struggles offensively, Okogie started to pick up his scoring before the season was halted due to COVID-19. In 11 games after the All-Star break, Okogie shot 50% from the field and 36% from 3. Josh already brings great defense, so the Suns could look at him as a project off the bench, with room to grow.

Jarrett Culver is another potential trade chip the Suns could find tantalizing. Culver is a similar player to Okogie, an athletic defensive wing with shooting upside. Culver has come along more quickly with his offense, than Okogie did. Culver shot a healthy 49% from the field and 42% from 3pt, in the final 11 games of the Timberwolves season. Even though the two of them being similar players, wing depth is a valuable commodity in today’s NBA.

SALARY MATCH AN ISSUE?

Because Booker signed a max extension with Phoenix in 2018, the Timberwolves would need to make the salaries match, in a trade. One veteran trade chip the Wolves could push to the middle of the table, is James Johnson. He is making $15 million on a player option. After that, the Wolves have cap hits of Jarrett Culver ($6.1 million), Jake Layman ($3.7 million), Josh Okogie ($2.7 million), and Jacob Evans ($2 million).

To get close to Booker’s $29.4 million salary for 2020-21, the Wolves could offer Johnson, Culver, Okogie, and their recent trade exceptions. Those exceptions include:

• Treveon Graham, expiring 1/16/21 — $228,505
• Jeff Teague, expiring 1/16/21 — $500,000
• Gorgui Dieng, expiring 2/6/21 — $879,813

Now those may not seem like much, but the Timberwolves do appear to have enough assets to make a deal happen. They could of course get another team involved to help further match salaries. There are always willing NBA teams, looking to offload or take on expiring contracts.

HOW HAVE THE WOLVES DONE IN RECENT TRADES?

Bulls agree in principle to trade Jimmy Butler, 16th pick to MIN for LaVine, Dunn, 7th pick, per @WojVerticalNBA. https://t.co/TVqw4JD8kr pic.twitter.com/tWSvpU44C2

— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) June 23, 2017

Obviously the Butler trade was the biggest the team has made since Kevin Garnett left for Boston. LaVine was beginning to show flashes of being a starting-caliber guard. The pick the Timberwolves traded ended up as Lauri Markkanen, who has been a promising young player for Chicago. Even Kris Dunn has showed flashes of success, since the trade, that he failed to show in Minnesota. The Wolves only got one season out of Butler, while the Bulls continue to get solid minutes from the former Wolves’ assets.

Golden State has agreed to trade D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota for a deal that includes Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN. Warriors will send Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman to Timberwolves too.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2020

Many Wolves fans were upset that Andrew Wiggins was kept rather than traded, in the Jimmy Butler deal. They got their wish when Wiggins was dealt for Russell. The Timberwolves were hoping to sign Russell in free agency, but he ultimately chose Golden State (despite questions about his fit on the team).

CAN THEY PULL IT OFF?

Other teams might have to get involved for money to work but, ultimately, it’s going to come down to Devan Booker’s desire to leave Phoenix. The Suns could look at their 8-0 stretch, inside the bubble, as a sign of the team coming together under Monty Williams. Even before that, they weren’t going to be in any big hurry to deal their 23-year-old superstar.

If Booker makes a request for a trade, Gersson Rosas should be ready to pull the trigger with his best offer (he will be). Whether or not it is enough will depend on what others are offering and how desperate Phoenix feels in that moment.

Seth Toupal | Minnesota Sports Fan

Amir Coffey finally got his chance to shine with the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night, and shine he did. In a game where the Clippers rested four of their starters for the upcoming playoffs, the former Minnesota Golden Gophers forward recorded career-high’s in points (21), assists (4) and steals (4), while also playing a career-high 50 minutes. His effort helped lead the Clippers to a 107-103 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Final Stats ?

Mann 25 PTS / 14 REB / 9 AST / 2 STL
Coffey 21 PTS / 4 AST / 4 STL
Patterson 17 PTS / 14 REB
Green 13 PTS / 3 3PM / 8 REB
Noah 9 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST
McGruder 9 PTS / 11 PTS / 2 STL
Jackson 7 PTS / 3 AST
Zubac 6 PTS / 4 REB / 1 BLK

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 15, 2020

CASSELL IMPRESSED

With rookie Terrance Mann also tallying 25 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, assistant coach Sam Cassell, who coached Friday’s game in place of head coach Doc Rivers, was impressed with both Coffey and Mann’s play:

“We expect the same things from our young guys that we expect from the stars of our team: play hard, play together,” Cassell said. “I’m coaching them hard, Doc was out there the first half, he coached them hard. Those guys did a great job doing the things we need to do to win the basketball game.”

Cassel via ESPN

#HNBMediaTV: Postgame @ReelTPJ got to chat with Sam Cassell after his 1st coaching win. He also spoke to young players Terrance Mann and Amir Coffey on the #Clippers win tonight. The stars didn't play tonight, but the effort was brought. LA Clippers finish the season 49-23. #NBA pic.twitter.com/hjQT28CVjG

— The New Show Clips Podcast (@NewShowInLA) August 15, 2020

COFFEY ON FULL DISPLAY

Like Cassel said, Amir did a great job and even decided to include a few highlight dunks in the game. The dunks, which resembled his days in the Maroon and Gold, were on full display all night. Transition dunks, lob dunks, poster dunks, you name it and Amir did it. As you can see below, the best dunk was the one that didn’t even count. 

Just brew-tiful.@FoxSportsWest | @coffeyshop_ pic.twitter.com/SjX94DOCfc

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 14, 2020

Amir Coffey is ballin' ballin' pic.twitter.com/5Ap7UDCh81

— CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) August 15, 2020

It didn't count…

BUT AMIR COFFEY WHAT ?#ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/0J3eOSj1fS

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) August 15, 2020

NOT JUST DUNKS

But the dunks weren’t the only way he impacted the game. He also led the Clippers in the plus-minus category with a +11 output. Considering that he played 50 minutes, a+11 is really good, as it is harder to get a positive plus-minus the more minutes one plays.

Overall, his play on Friday was undoubtedly the best — and most — he’s played all season. Coming into Friday’s game against the Thunder, Coffey had only played 11:36 since the season restarted. And prior to that, 24:31 was his most time played in a single game the whole year. That game was a 41-point blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 9. 

MORE TO COME?

But we should see a lot more of Coffey next year, however. After being signed to a two-way deal as an undrafted free agent in last years draft, Coffey spent the early part of the year in the G-League, where he played 15 games and averaged 15.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in just under 30 minutes per game. 

That output was enough to keep him with the big boys, where he played in 13 of the last 15 games before the league shut down in mid-March due to COVID-19. After Friday’s game, Amir talked about what it means to be playing with the Clippers under coach Doc Rivers: 

“Doc is a head coach that’s been in the league for a while now. He’s won championships, he’s had great coaching seasons, he’s won a lot of games. So just coming into the league it was just a blessing to be under a guy like him, and now it just shows how much a teacher of the game he is. (He’s) one of those coaches that gets into detail, let’s you know when you’re right or wrong, ya know just teaches you. And he’s a good development coach.”

Amir Coffey in postgame interview

WORKING HIS WAY IN

Getting back to those 13 games, he didn’t just play a few garbage time minutes (well he did in a few of them but that’s beside the point). In eight of those 13 games, he played more than five minutes. In those eight games, he played more than 10 minutes in four of them. 

His best of those four games came in the aforementioned game against the Cavaliers. In that game, he scored ten points, collected four rebounds, and had a plus-minus of +16. Not bad for the Hopkins High School alum. His coach didn’t think it was bad either: 

“I love him as a player. He’s going to have a really good future. He’s just so long, and his basketball IQ is off the charts.”

Doc Rivers on Amir Coffey

So when you look at his outputs when given an opportunity, plus Clippers head coach Doc Rivers praise for him, we should see a lot more of Amir Coffey down the road! 

Carson Ruen | Minnesota Sports Fan