Minnesota’s path again to the WCF gained’t be a straightforward (or low cost!) one

Blissful Friday, of us! Welcome again to Layup Traces. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of me at present. I hope you’ve had an ideal week and have a fair higher weekend forward of you.

Issues didn’t go so properly for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday evening when the Mavs bounced them out of the playoffs. The Wolves misplaced 124-103, and in some way, it was a kind of video games the place the rating was so much nearer than the sport was. We’re speaking a couple of 21-point loss right here. It was that dangerous.

READ MORE: The Timberwolves bought off to such a foul begin that Ernie Johnson swore on Contained in the NBA

The pure reflex for folks after the loss normally sounded one thing like this: “Don’t fear — the Wolves shall be again.”

That’s an inexpensive take. In any case, the group’s 22-year-old famous person in Anthony Edwards is simply getting higher. He’s not even near reaching his prime but he’s already carried this group this far. Anticipating a better climb within the close to future makes loads of sense.

Whereas I totally imagine in Ant-Man’s energy and his skill to hold this group, I’m not positive that this group shall be taking the following step anytime quickly. It’s not due to something the Timberwolves are doing or have completed — it’s due to what they may not have the ability to do.

The NBA’s new luxurious tax guidelines make it extraordinarily arduous for groups already spending a ton of cash to get any higher. The Wolves fall into that class.

When Anthony Edwards’ extension lastly kicks in subsequent season, Minnesota will round $194 million in wage on their books, in accordance with HoopsHype’s wage knowledge. If the Timberwolves don’t make a transfer to shake issues up, that places them firmly over the posh tax for subsequent season at $171.3 million and properly into the tax’s second apron, at round $190 million, per Yahoo! Sports activities.

If the Wolves are a second-apron group, it’s going to be arduous to get higher. Being in that second apron takes away entry to key roster constructing instruments like:

• The flexibility to make sign-and-trades to amass gamers
• The flexibility to make use of the tax-payer mid-level exception to signal new gamers
• Sending out money in trades for issues like additional picks
• The flexibility to take again more cash in any commerce made

That’s simply the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot extra that ESPN’s Bobby Marks goes over right here. The purpose is, although, that the Wolves should discover artistic methods to get higher whereas not taking over any cash. That’s arduous to do within the NBA.

Possibly Minnesota doesn’t should — it may very well be a matter of inside enchancment. Run it again with the identical group, they usually’ll possible nonetheless be aggressive. This was a 56-win group, in any case.

However don’t be stunned if the Wolves don’t do a lot this offseason. The brand new collective bargaining settlement won’t allow them to.

There’s nonetheless basketball to observe, of us

(Photograph by Elsa/Getty Pictures)

I do know we’ve bought a minute earlier than the primary sport of the NBA Finals ideas off — there’s a very long time between now and June 6. However don’t be like Nike and utterly neglect that there’s nonetheless different basketball being performed.

Meg Corridor has your repair for you right here:

“We get it. There’s nearly per week till the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks meet for Sport 1 of the NBA Finals, and also you’re simply not fairly positive what to do with out basketball. There’s no Luka Doncic round to troll followers ruthlessly, and there’s no Jaylen Brown right here to be transparently and hysterically sincere.

However there’s the WNBA ― one thing the Nike basketball account forgot ― who has a staggering 16 matchups till the Celtics and Mavs take the ground.”

The WNBA is in full swing, and now is an effective time to compensate for the league in the event you’ve been entrenched within the NBA playoffs. With a full 16-game slate this weekend, you’ve bought a lot to observe. Faucet in.

READ MORE: Right here’s Meg with the WNBA’s weekend schedule for you

Shootaround

— Luka Doncic needs to maintain Contained in the NBA round. Make it occur, TNT. Charles Curtis has extra. 

— Right here’s Robert Zeglinski chronicling all the horrible votes Kendrick Perkins has ever made. Possibly he ought to cease voting on all NBA awards and never simply DPOY.

— Anthony Edward’s new sneaker industrial is so perfect. Possibly he actually is MJ.

— Stephen A. Smith is blaming LeBron James for Bronny’s rising inventory within the draft, however he ought to actually blame his employer.

That’s a wrap, of us. Thanks a lot for rocking with Layup Traces this week. We’ll be again on Monday with extra. Till then! Peace.

-Sykes ✌️