The Minnesota Timberwolves had a killer season last year, reaching the Western Conference Finals and finally breaking that 20-year playoff series curse. They earned their spot—they’ve got a solid squad. But there’s a cloud hanging over their success. With their sky-high payroll and the looming restrictions of the salary cap’s second apron, they’re staring down some serious challenges.

With Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Edwards all on max deals, plus Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Mike Conley stacking up serious cash, the Timberwolves have seriously overshot the second apron limit. Their payroll is hitting $205,991,718, which is $17,060,718 over the cap. This isn’t just some number—it’s a huge deal. Being over the second apron isn’t just about the penalties; it limits their ability to make trades and tweak the roster, which could totally shake up their future.

So, this could possibly be the last time we see Gobert, KAT, and ANT all on the court together as a team. The Timberwolves are in a tough spot with their finances and might need to let go of some top players to balance the budget. But if they snag a title or even make it to the Finals, the playoff cash could give them some room to maneuver.

This season is huge for the Timberwolves. They’ve got a lot riding on it, and if they don’t bring their A-game, things could get messy. But hey, that pressure could also light a fire under them and push them to go all out. The stakes are sky-high, and this could be the spark they need to give it everything they’ve got every time they hit the court. Plus, the legal battle between Alex Rodriguez and their current owner Glenn Taylor is cranking up the tensions even more.

On top of all this pressure, some NBA experts and fans think the Timberwolves might not be as legit as they look.

Charles Barkley on Timberwolves playoff run last year

Last year, the Timberwolves made a huge splash, making it to the Conference Finals, sweeping the Suns, and taking down the division champs, the Nuggets. But despite their killer season, some NBA experts like Charles Barkley aren’t buying into their hype. “Minnesota, I think, will regress. They will regress. They got lucky last year, everything worked out for them. They let the Joker down last year because he had to play the whole game against those two big seven footers and he just got worn down,” Charles Barkley said.

This offseason, the Timberwolves faced some serious shake-ups. They lost Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris, and Jordan McLaughlin, which definitely hurt their depth. To counter this, they brought in Joe Ingles and drafted two rookies. With their funds tight and no room for major free-agent signings, Tim Conley had to get creative. He made a bold move by trading up with the Spurs to grab Rob Dillingham at number eight, even though they only had the 27th pick. It cost them a future first-rounder in 2030 and a top-unprotected swap in 2031.

Wondering why the Timberwolves swapped picks to snag this rookie? Last season, the Timberwolves were a defensive juggernaut, thanks to their two seven-footers patrolling the paint. They led the league with a defensive rating of 108.4. But on the flip side, their offense was struggling, sitting at a meh 114.6 offensive rating, ranking 17th and trailing teams like the Cavaliers. This issue really showed up in the playoffs against the Mavericks, where Anthony Edwards was carrying the load and eventually got burned out. That’s why they made the move for Rob Dillingham.

Dillingham’s a real gem with tons of upside. The Spurs let him go because he’s just 6’1″, and they worried about his defense. But the Timberwolves are chill with that—they’ve got defense locked down already. What they’re after is offense, and Dillingham delivers big time. He was a highlight machine at Kentucky, putting up 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists while nailing 44% of his threes. His NBA-ready handles and scoring chops make him a great fit next to Ant-Man.

So, don’t write off the Timberwolves’ chances of snagging a championship or making it to the Finals just yet. There’s still a ton of basketball to be played, and anything can happen as the season rolls on. What’s your take on this?