T-Wolves Reportedly Expect to Keep Roster 'Largely Intact' amid Randle, Reid Rumors

On the heels of back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, the Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly expected to keep most of their current team together next season.

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the T-Wolves' roster will remain "largely intact," which suggests the organization isn't looking to move on from center Naz Reid or forward Julius Randle.

Reid, who is the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his player option, and while he figures to generate a ton of interest on the open market, Krawczynski noted that team sources said the Timberwolves "will have discussions in hopes of retaining him."

Randle, who is a three-time All-Star, can also become a free agent this offseason if he declines his player option, and during a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst expressed his belief that the T-Wolves won't be able to keep all of Reid, Randle and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who can all hit free agency this offseason.

However, Krawczynski reported that money is not expected to be an issue for the new ownership group headed by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore.

The T-Wolves had one of the highest payrolls in the NBA this season and reached the second apron of the luxury tax threshold, but Rodriguez and Lore are reportedly "prepared to continue to pay the luxury tax," which suggests they may be willing to retain all of their key free agents.

Minnesota has been extremely active with big trades over the past few offseasons, first acquiring center Rudy Gobert in a trade with the Utah Jazz in 2022.

That move initially looked like a mistake, as Gobert struggled in his first year in Minnesota and the T-Wolves were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, but he bounced back to win Defensive Player of the Year in his second season, and the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals.

Despite going on a deep playoff run before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the WCF, the T-Wolves made another blockbuster trade last offseason, sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for a package headlined by Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

Towns had a spectacular season in New York and helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but the T-Wolves didn't miss a beat after trading him, as they returned to the WCF.

Minnesota fell short of the NBA Finals once again, though, losing the series 4-1 to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Rising superstar Anthony Edwards is the face of the franchise and the player who everything will be built around, so the T-Wolves should continue to remain competitive as long as he is in the fold.

A strong supporting cast is hugely important, though, and despite falling short, the Timberwolves had exactly that this season.

Given that it would be difficult for the Timberwolves to make any significant upgrades via outside signings or trades due to their salary cap situation, retaining the players they already have may be the best course of action in terms of continuing to be championship contenders.