The Minnesota Timberwolves have just booked their ticket to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive time, something that had never happened before in the franchise. It is logical, as this year is only the third time that the Wolves have played in the NBA semifinals. In neither of the previous two did they manage to get past that round.
The Wolves’ first Conference Final dates back to the 2003-04 season. It was the first time the team had advanced past the first round of the Playoffs after seven straight years of falling in the first round. And that first time meant nothing less than the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers, 4-2. It was the era of Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and even Wally Szczerbiak.
After that and after reaching the NBA Finals, it was back to the tunnel with 13 seasons without appearing in the Playoffs, a first-round loss in 2017-18 and again another three years without postseason. Until the current Wolves began to take shape, going from not winning a Playoff series (2021-22 and 2022-23), to playing in the Conference Finals in 2023-24. Whenever the Wolves have won the first round of the postseason, they have reached the Western Conference Finals. They will face either the Thunder or the Nuggets.
Last year it was the Mavericks who closed the door on their NBA Finals hopes, 4-1, in a very abrupt end to the season after having so much excitement in the regular season (56 wins, third). This year, from sixth place, they have managed to get back into the conference finals with the idea of finishing the job that last year was left undone.
After the defeat to the Mavs, the Wolves seemed to start a rebuild with the trade of Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Many experts ventured to call this the end of an era in Minnesota. Less than a year later, they are back in a conference finals, demonstrating the success of that move.
But how have these Wolves been built to be able to play two years in a row in the Finals of the Wild West? This is how the heroes of Minnesota came to the roster.
The construction of Wolves
Naz Reid: Signed during the 2019 preseason.
Luka Garza: Signed during the 2022 preseason.
Anthony Edwards: Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft by the Wolves.
Jaden McDaniels: Selected with the 28th pick in the 2020 Draft by the Wolves
Mike Conley: Acquired during the 2022-23 season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Acquired during the 2022-23 season.
Josh Minnot: Selected with the 45th pick in the 2022 Draft by the Wolves.
Leonard Miller: Drafted with the 33rd pick in the 2023 Draft by the Wolves.
Rudy Gobert: Signed during the 2022 preseason in a mega-trade with the Utah Jazz.
Jaylen Clark: Drafted with the number 53 pick in the 2023 Draft by the Wolves.
Julius Randle: Signed during the 2024 preseason in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
Rob Dillingham: Selected with the number 8 in the 2024 Draft by the Wolves.
Donte DiVincenzo: Signed during the 2024 preseason in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
Terrence Shannon Jr: Drafted with the 27th pick in the 2024 Draft by the Wolves.
Joe Ingles: Signed during the 2024 preseason.
Bones Hyland: Signed during the 2024-25 season.
Jesse Edwards: Acquired during the 2024 preseason.
Tristen Newton: Acquired during the 2024-25 season
Chris Finch: He took over as head coach during the 2020-21 season.
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