The 2026-27 NBA season is right here! Take a look at our staff previews, together with energy rankings, best- and worst-case eventualities, and fantasy recommendation.
Contents
2025-26 end
Document: 49-33 (sixth within the West, misplaced 4-2 in West semifinals to Spurs)
Offseason strikes
Draft:s (No. 33), Trey Kaufman-Renn (No. 59)
Signings: Ayo Dosunmu (re-signed for five years, $112 million), d (re-signed for 1 12 months, $2.9 million), okay (re-signed for 3 years, $10 million)
Trades: LaMelo Ball (from Hornets), Josh Inexperienced (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), n (signed with Raptors)
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Preseason Energy Rankings: No. 5
What's thrilling: Wolves normal supervisor Tim Connelly stated in Might that he'd prefer to get Anthony Edwards simpler pictures as a result of he's such an elite shooter. That's true. Edwards made practically 50% of his catch-and-shoot 3s final season, nevertheless it got here on a low quantity. Who may assist out that drawback? LaMelo. I'm fired as much as see how this dynamic develops. Will Ant faucet into his interior Steph? We've seen him add layer after layer to his recreation, so perhaps thriving off-ball is the following step.
What's regarding: LaMelo raises Minnesota's ceiling, however he additionally lowers its flooring. His decision-making is erratic and, till final season, he was extraordinarily damage inclined. So betting on him to be the piece that helps put Ant excessive is sort of a threat. It's one value taking, for my part. However that doesn't change the very fact it may implode. — Kevin O'Connor
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Fantasy watch
Joan Beringer deserves a roster spot in 12+ 9-cat codecs. He's the one true backup large by default, and that issues on a staff this skinny up entrance. I don't love Jonathan Kuminga, however this staff can be enjoyable. Don't sleep on Ayo Dosunmu having extra affect than Kuminga. I could also be too excessive on LaMelo Ball, however a third-round ADP is off; I'm taking him within the second. — Dan Titus
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2026-27 schedule
Opening week: 10/21 at Warmth, 10/23 at Magic
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Betting perspective
48.5 — win whole
+1100 to win division
+2500 to win NBA Finals
Finest case, worst case
Finest case: No. 1 seed
The protection needs to be fairly good, if not elite — particularly if there's constant buy-in from Ball and Edwards. And with Ball and Edwards on the forefront on the opposite finish, there's a pathway to the Wolves having a top-five offense — if not the greatest offense within the league.
Worst case: Play-in Event
There's a world the place the elevated tempo accentuates the questionable decision-making that may pop up with Ball and Edwards. That, plus opposing defenses leaning into the next dosage of switching may result in a good-but-underwhelming offensive season as a complete. If their protection is nearer to tenth (or worse), it's a components that would have the Wolves successful 45-48 video games fairly than flirting with (and even eclipsing) 60. — Nekias Duncan
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