Minnesota Timberwolves season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27

The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

Record: 49-33 (6th in the West, lost 4-2 in West semifinals to Spurs)

Draft:Isaiah Evans (No. 33), Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 59)

Signings: Ayo Dosunmu (re-signed for 5 years, $112 million), Bones Hyland (re-signed for 1 year, $2.9 million), Jaylen Clark (re-signed for 3 years, $10 million)

Trades: LaMelo Ball (from Hornets), Josh Green (from Hornets), Mouhamadou Gueye (from Bulls)

Key departures: Julius Randle (traded to Nets), Naz Reid (traded to Hornets), Joe Ingles (signed with Melbourne United), Mike Conley Jr. (signed with Celtics), Kyle Anderson (signed with Raptors)

Current roster

What's exciting: Wolves general manager Tim Connelly said in May that he'd like to get Anthony Edwards easier shots because he's such an elite shooter. That's true. Edwards made nearly 50% of his catch-and-shoot 3s last season, but it came on a low volume. Who could help out that problem? LaMelo. I'm fired up to see how this dynamic develops. Will Ant tap into his inner Steph? We've seen him add layer after layer to his game, so maybe thriving off-ball is the next step.

What's concerning: LaMelo raises Minnesota's ceiling, but he also lowers its floor. His decision-making is erratic and, until last season, he was extremely injury prone. So betting on him to be the piece that helps put Ant over the top is quite a risk. It's one worth taking, in my opinion. But that doesn't change the fact it could implode. — Kevin O'Connor 

Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27

Joan Beringer deserves a roster spot in 12+ 9-cat formats. He's the only true backup big by default, and that matters on a team this thin up front. I don't love Jonathan Kuminga, but this team will be fun. Don't sleep on Ayo Dosunmu having more impact than Kuminga. I may be too high on LaMelo Ball, but a third-round ADP is off; I'm taking him in the second. — Dan Titus

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

Opening week: 10/21 at Heat, 10/23 at Magic

Complete schedule

48.5 — win total

+1100 to win division

+2500 to win NBA Finals

Best case: No. 1 seed

The defense should be quite good, if not elite — especially if there's consistent buy-in from Ball and Edwards. And with Ball and Edwards at the forefront on the other end, there's a pathway to the Wolves having a top-five offense — if not the best offense in the league.

Worst case: Play-in Tournament

There's a world where the increased pace accentuates the questionable decision-making that can pop up with Ball and Edwards. That, plus opposing defenses leaning into a higher dosage of switching could lead to a good-but-underwhelming offensive season as a whole. If their defense is closer to 10th (or worse), it's a formula that could have the Wolves winning 45-48 games rather than flirting with (or even eclipsing) 60. — Nekias Duncan

Read the full Northwest Division preview