Timberwolves receive high praise in latest power rankings

The Athletic's Law Murray ranked the Minnesota Timberwolves fourth overall in his updated NBA power rankings, placing them in Tier 1 of title contenders. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder were ranked higher. Minnesota held the same fourth-place position as in Murray's previous rankings.

Notably, the Timberwolves were positioned one spot ahead of the Denver Nuggets (who shared Tier 1) and two spots above the Houston Rockets (in Tier 2). Murray emphasized that Minnesota represents the Western Conference's strongest contender after Oklahoma City, citing their consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances and team continuity as justification. However, the ranking above Denver and Houston was deemed somewhat surprising given those teams' offseason improvements.

The Rockets significantly upgraded by trading for Kevin Durant and signing Dorian Finney-Smith, enhancing an already impressive young core. The Nuggets bolstered their roster by acquiring Cam Johnson and Jonas Valančiūnas via trade, while also signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.—transforming Nikola Jokić's supporting cast from "subpar" to "elite." Both teams had outperformed Minnesota in the regular season, leading many to rank them above the Wolves.

Despite the competition, Minnesota's case as a top contender was supported by their strong finish to the season (16-4 in their final 20 games to secure the sixth seed) and playoff performance. Early integration challenges for mid-season acquisitions Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have resolved, and internal growth is expected from young players like Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark, alongside potential leaps from Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.

The Timberwolves' offseason was quiet beyond re-signing Randle and Naz Reid and drafting Joan Beringer. This minimal change was framed as strategically sound, leveraging their two-way balance, continuity, and organic improvement to solidify contender status. While their exact ranking among elites remains debatable, Murray's analysis highlights their significant media recognition as legitimate championship threats.