Timberwolves Targeting ‘Do-It-All Connector' for 2026

The Minnesota Timberwolves had a strong 2025-26 season in the NBA but came up short after dropping Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. They lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 139-109 in that final game and lost the series 4-2.

But, there’s lots of promise for this franchise, and there’s no shame in going out on a Game 6. It’s not like it was a sweep. Now, the Timberwolves are looking ahead to the 2026-27 season.

In a mock out on Wednesday, May 20, Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports lays out his picks after the Combine. “Beyond the measurements and testing, the conversations behind the scenes provide an illuminating look at where some of the top NBA Draft prospects are trending,” he states in the piece.

For the Timberwolves, he links them to power forward Allen Graves out of Santa Clara.

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“Minnesota would lick its chops to add a do-it-all connector like Graves to its already loaded mix of high-impact role players,” he states in the piece. “Graves is a deflections machine, which fits the ethos of T-Wolves basketball to a T.”

He adds of Graves: “He also impacts the game positively with his playmaking, shot-making and cutting while projecting as a potential replacement for Julius Randle down the road. But Graves is a tweener. While he was at his best offensively at the 5-spot, Santa Clara was at its worst defensively.”

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A Closer Look: Why Allen Graves to the Timberwolves Works

While Graves has certainly looked strongest defensively at power forward, the team’s offense struggled when he played there. That’s the tricky part. He’s probably not big enough to play small-ball center in the NBA, but he just still needs some time to slim down and fully settle into his role.

For the Timberwolves, though, adding Graves is a clean and good move. Their defense is built around length and discipline, and Graves already flashes the kind of instincts that fit right into that system. Put him in that environment, one that’s already strong, and he doesn’t need to be perfect on offense to stay on the floor. He really just needs to be functional and follow his instincts enough to let the defense do the heavy lifting, and he can shine.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 10:50 AM.