Minnesota

Timberwolves

Having finished Thursday’s summer opener with more turnovers than assists, Dillingham cleaned some things up on Saturday. While the assists increased from six to nine, the second-year guard’s turnovers decreased from seven to four. Terrence Shannon Jr. may be the player best equipped to step into the role vacated by Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Still, Dillingham will also have opportunities, especially since Mike Conley is not getting any younger.

Given how well he’s played in Minnesota’s first two games in Las Vegas, it would be unsurprising if the team decided it has seen enough from Shannon. Likely to take on a larger role next season due to Nickeil Alexander Walker’s departure, the 27th overall pick in the 2024 draft has looked ready for the task thus far. Among Shannon’s highlights on Saturday were five three-pointers and an emphatic fourth-quarter dunk that got a courtside Anthony Edwards out of his seat. While he may not be a must-draft player in standard leagues, Shannon may develop into a player who needs to be rostered in deeper formats.

The 33rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, Miller has yet to establish himself as a player worthy of consistent opportunities in Minnesota. That makes this summer league experience crucial for him, even though his contract for the 2025-26 season is guaranteed. Miller looked good on Thursday, playing at a high level on both ends of the floor. He isn’t someone fantasy managers will be targeting in most drafts, but Miller is worth tracking to see if he can provide Minnesota with added value off the bench.

With Nickeil Alexander-Walker now a member of the Atlanta Hawks, Shannon is well-positioned to earn consistent rotation minutes next season. The 27th pick in the 2024 draft played well on Thursday, recording a near-complete stat line while only committing three turnovers. Shannon did score 15 points in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, but that was a contest that Minnesota controlled throughout, resulting in more minutes for the team’s non-rotation players. With Alexander-Walker gone, the Timberwolves will need Shannon to step forward. While “it was only summer league,” Thursday’s performance was a step in the right direction.

Along with Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark, Dillingham is one of the returning players on Minnesota’s summer roster with a serious shot at earning rotation minutes next season. The Timberwolves lost Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency, and with Mike Conley not getting any younger, Dillingham will have every opportunity to earn more minutes at the point. Two areas where he’ll need to improve: finishing and ball control. In addition to committing seven turnovers on Thursday, Dillingham shot 1-of-8 from inside the arc. The good news is that he was 3-of-6 from three and posted a solid assist tally.

Beringer may not have been discussed as a marquee player heading into the opening day of the NBA 2K26 Summer League, but the first-round pick out of France changed that almost immediately. He rejected three shots before the game’s first timeout on Thursday and finished with seven blocks. Beringer was bouncy on both ends of the floor, finishing above the rim offensively and serving as a significant deterrent in the paint defensively. Learning from countryman Rudy Gobert should benefit Beringer, whose value in dynasty leagues likely skyrocketed following his performance against the Pelicans.

Ingles will be back for a 12th NBA season, and he’ll likely play a role similar to the one he played in 2024-25. The veteran logged just six minutes per game across 19 appearances for the Wolves a season ago, and he’ll be a locker room guy rather than an impactful, on-court option. Fantasy managers can safely leave him on the waiver wire after he goes unselected in 2025-26 drafts.

A few days after it was reported that Naz Reid agreed to a new deal with the Timberwolves, Randle has reportedly done the same. His new deal will include a player option for the 2027-28 season. While there were some early hiccups, Randle had a productive debut season in Minnesota. In 69 games, he averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 three-pointers in 32.3 minutes. The returns of Randle and Reid will likely mean free agent guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker heads elsewhere, as other teams can offer him more than the Timberwolves can. Detroit is one team rumored to be highly interested in signing Alexander-Walker.

Fresh off their second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves hope to keep most of their core together for another run. Reid, who opted out of the final year of his current deal, has been a key piece off the bench for Chris Finch’s team, and retaining him would be immense. Finch said earlier this month that he expects Reid and Julius Randle to return to the team next season. Reid staying in Minnesota likely keeps him in the sixth-man role, which limits his fantasy ceiling. However, he’s still worth selecting in all league drafts.

Chicago made the pick, but Zikarsky will be headed to Minnesota via trade. He played the last two seasons with the Brisbane Bullets, making an impact in limited minutes. Last season, he provided 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks across 12.2 minutes per game. In his only professional start, Zikarsky finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three swats. Standing 7’2 and weighing in at 227 pounds, the Australian big man can make an impact as a lob threat and rebounder, though he’s still a raw talent on both ends of the floor. Zikarsky will be the third-tallest player in the NBA next season behind Victor Wembanyama and Zach Edey. As for his potential impact in Minnesota, he’s a bit of a project but should have time to develop as Rudy Gobert continues to man the middle.