The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. The Western Conference saw a great deal of change occur within the past week, but it may be a team that did not make a move that will surprise opponents down the stretch.
The Minnesota Timberwolves did not make any tweaks prior to Thursday's deadline. There were rumors that they were interested in players such as Kevin Durant and Lonzo Ball. But, ultimately, the front office decided to stand pat. In doing so, they have cemented themselves as a contender with continuity.
Currently, the club is sixth in the conference. They could plausibly end up with either a top-four seed or a spot in the play-in tournament.
Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks will all have to adjust to their new alignments. But the Timberwolves will have the luxury of consistency. Even though they have been without Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo since the end of January, they have managed to remain dangerous and will have more continuity than other squads as spring approaches.
Why the Timberwolves must take advantage of a newly shuffled Western Conference
Of course, any conversation regarding Minnesota's championship aspirations must begin with Anthony Edwards. The 23-year-old is a generational talent who has arguably gotten better each year. Presently he's averaging career highs in points and 3-point field goal attempts.
His presence alone makes the Timberwolves a viable postseason threat. He was the main ingredient of last year's run to the Western Conference Finals. While Karl-Anthony Towns is now with New York, Edwards will receive help from both Randle and DiVincenzo when they return.
While neither DiVincenzo nor Randle has been particularly elite this season, more time with their new teammates could help them find more consistency.
Further, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid are both primed to make another playoff run with Anthony Edwards. It will be especially interesting to see how Reid, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, performs once the tournament rolls around.
The New Jersey native is scoring more points and playing more minutes than he did last season. it could be argued that his offensive development will take some pressure off of Edwards while also granting others like Randle, DiVincenzo, and McDaniels room to find out how they can be effective contributors.
The Timberwolves will have to figure out how each piece will fit. But, unlike other Western Conference teams that made big changes, they will retain a sense of familiarity. This could be a game changer considering the West varies in terms of age and playoff experience.
The Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Memphis Grizzlies all boast young talent that might not be ready for a championship run. Likewise, groups like the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns have older veterans who might run out of gas before the second round.
Minnesota chose to roll with they have, and while the standings may not reflect it, they may have a strong case to represent the West when all is said and done.