Analysis: The Timberwolves can sign 3 best deals with the 17th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Due to limited cap space and poor performance in the playoffs recently, the Timberwolves can use the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft to make key trades.

Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second consecutive Western Conference Finals. However, this time their promotion against the Thunder is expected to be smaller than last year when they faced the Mavericks. In the end, the Timberwolves were suppressed by the Thunder on both offense and defense. They need to bring in some key players to the team through the 2025 NBA draft, trade, or try to develop young players.

Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves are the first team to lose in the Western Conference Finals in a row after Steve Nash's Suns (2005 and 2006) 😮 pic.twitter.com/X6SRQEoYmn

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 29, 2025

Apparently, if the Timberwolves want to beat the Thunder in the West, they need to adjust their roster significantly, or even make some adjustments, but it seems they may still not be able to do that at the moment. The Timberwolves management insisted on maintaining a basically identical roster as last offseason, when they traded Carl Anthony Towns for Randle and Divinsonzo.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have limited draft funds and capacities due to the imminent second round of tax crisis. Due to age factors, they were unable to introduce star players and ended up having to choose NBA veterans.

Timberwolves' NBA draft trading strategy: adjust the lineup after the Thunder's devastating defeat, and all players should bear equal responsibilities. The Timberwolves defeated the weakened Lakers and Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, but they were unable to defeat the Thunder, the strongest defense in the Western Conference. The team needs to make some changes and must act quickly. Many teams are looking to improve their roster this offseason, and the Timberwolves management needs to take action.

If the Timberwolves want to rerun the team with the same lineup core, the first priority this season is to retrieve the key players. The biggest question right now is whether Randall will choose his $30.9 million player option and whether Naz Reid and Nikil Alexander Walker will return. Reed hopes to stay with the Timberwolves, but the final decision has not been announced yet.

Therefore, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Dont Divinsonzo and Mike Conley will be the only key players in the 2024-25 season to be sure to remain contracts next season. They also have 2024-25 rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon II, who may be ready to take on more important roles.

Can the Timberwolves use the 17th pick in the NBA draft to facilitate key deals? The Timberwolves are considering the possibility of transferring Kevin Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves with Edwards

Kevin Durant to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which seems to be risky, but has great potential. Durant is experienced at critical moments, and if he can partner with this player he admires, we may be able to see Durant's peak form in the next few years.

Durant was Edwards' childhood idol and they played for Team USA together last summer. However, one of the main problems with the deal is that Durant is 37 years old, and what if the Timberwolves decided to develop a younger core player instead of bringing in an experienced world-class player?

Why is T.J. McConnell suitable for the Timberwolves' second team?

McConnell has proven himself to be a good ball handler who can bring leadership, rhythm control and a fighting spirit on the defensive end to the team. At the same time, his salary space is relatively affordable ($9.3 million, expires in 2025), which can make up for the stability that the Minnesota Timberwolves' second team lacks in the playoffs. The introduction of McConnell could keep the Minnesota Timberwolves below the second tax rating, while a one-year contract adds flexibility in 2026.

De Aaron Fox Deal: Is it worth bearing the tightening of salary space?

If the Timberwolves decide to introduce Fox, unless there is a strong basket protector, the backcourt combination of Edwards and Fox will become a problem when switching defenses. But on the other hand, introducing Fox means injecting athletic talent into the backcourt. However, his $37 million contract could signal potential dangers and trying to complete a deal under the salary cap can be difficult. So if the Timberwolves need Fox, they will have to give up some players.