Big decisions for Wolves this offseason
The bad news is another thrilling Wolves season has ended with a disappointing loss in the Western Conference Finals.
The good news is this team's window for contending for a title remains wide open.
State of play: Of the eight main players who get regular minutes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the only free agent, while Julius Randle and Naz Reid have the option to become free agents this summer.
23-year-old superstar Anthony Edwards and rising star Jaden McDaniels are under contract for four more seasons, and veterans Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo for two more.
Some of the young players should be ready for expanded roles, namely Terrence Shannon Jr., who showed flashes in short spurts in the playoffs, and Jaylen Clark, a defensive menace.
Yes, but: There are a few big questions facing the team.
Can they keep Randle and Reid? Both power forwards have the chance to become free agents this offseason. Are the Wolves willing to shell out most of their salary cap space to keep them both? If so, it likely means Alexander-Walker is gone.
What's the plan at point guard? Mike Conley Jr. will be 38 next year and it's not clear how much he will have left in the tank. The Wolves will need to decide if second-year PG Rob Dillingham is ready for an expanded role, or if they need to find a veteran.
Would they trade Gobert? The Stifle Tower is still a force on defense, but the playoffs exposed a decline in his already limited offensive game, as well as his rebounding. If they trade him, they will need to find a new rim protector.
Will Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore shell out the big bucks? Keeping their best players is going to cost a lot of money. If the two owners close on the acquisition of the team this summer — as expected — fans will expect them to spend big to keep the team in the mix.
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