Editing Minnesota Timberwolves (section)

===== 2023–24: Second conference finals appearance =====
[[File:Rudy Gobert.jpg|thumb|Rudy Gobert won a record-tying fourth DPOY in 2024]]
The [[2023–24 Minnesota Timberwolves season|2023–24 season]] was their best since 2004, as they recorded 56 wins and landed the third seed in the Western Conference. They were the no. 1 defense in the league,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Once again, Timberwolves tasked with slowing the NBA's greatest scorers |url=https://www.nba.com/news/minnesota-timberwolves-best-defenses-nba-history-2024 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref> anchored by eventual DPOY winner Rudy Gobert and [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive]] selection [[Jaden McDaniels]]. Anthony Edwards made his first [[All-NBA Team|All-NBA]] Team, [[Karl-Anthony Towns]] made his fourth All-Star Appearance, and fan favorite<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krawczynski |first=Jon |title=Naz Reid's bid for Sixth Man of the Year started as a high school freshman in New Jersey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5398678/2024/04/08/naz-reid-nba-sixth-man-timberwolves/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Naz Reid]] was named [[NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award|Sixth Man of the Year]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Krawczynski |first1=Jon |last2=Charania |first2=Shams |title=Timberwolves' offseason questions: Ownership fight, Tim Connelly and a looming bill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5531453/2024/05/31/timberwolves-tim-connelly-karl-anthony-town-offseason/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On March 28, 2024, Glen Taylor announced that the sale of the team to prospective owners [[Marc Lore]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]] was off.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-28 |title=Timberwolves Sale Collapses |url=https://tcbmag.com/timberwolves-sale-collapses/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Twin Cities Business |language=en-US}}</ref> Lore and Rodriguez were expected to make their third and final payment installment to Taylor on March 27, 2024, raising their ownership interest from 40% to 80% in both the Timberwolves and Lynx, stemming from the April 2021 agreement to purchase the team.<ref name="Tribune">{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Nick Williams Star |title=Failed $1.5 billion sale, ownership dispute of Minnesota Timberwolves looms as team heads closer to NBA finals |url=https://www.startribune.com/as-timberwolves-battle-for-nba-crown-off-court-dispute-simmers-over-teams-ownership/600368262/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Star Tribune|date=May 23, 2024 }}</ref> However, Lore and Rodriguez's payment was not made by the deadline. It is unclear what exactly transpired leading to the deal falling through. On March 20, 2024, it was reported the Lore and Rodriguez lost the financial backing of the [[The Carlyle Group|Carlyle Group]] that had previously pledged $300 million towards the final installment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-20 |title=A-Rod, Lore lose backing in deal for Timberwolves |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39768940/a-rod-marc-lore-lose-backing-deal-majority-stake-timberwolves |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> On March 21, 2024, it appeared as if Lore and Rodriguez had secured the backing of [[Blue Owl Capital]] to keep the sale on track.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Nick |last2=Tribune |first2=Chris Hine Star |title=Blue Owl joins Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore as equity investors in Timberwolves, Lynx |url=https://www.startribune.com/carlyle-group-backs-out-of-negotiations-to-invest-in-alex-rodriguez-marc-lore-ownership-of-timberwolves/600352652/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Star Tribune|date=March 20, 2024 }}</ref> Lore and Rodriguez state they filed the necessary paperwork for league approval prior to the March 27, 2024, payment deadline, which should have granted them a ninety-day extension to submit the funds to Taylor.<ref name="Tribune"/> The parties met to mediate the dispute on May 1, 2024, but no agreement was reached.<ref name="Tribune"/> On June 6, 2024, it was announced that [[Michael Bloomberg]] would join Rodriguez and Lore's ownership group.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Krawczynski |first1=Jon |last2=Charania |first2=Shams |title=Sources: Michael Bloomberg agrees to join Marc Lore-Alex Rodriguez ownership group |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5545916/2024/06/06/michael-bloomberg-marc-lore-alex-rodriguez-ownership/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In the first round of the [[2024 NBA playoffs|2024 playoffs]], the Timberwolves swept the [[Phoenix Suns]] 4–0. It was their first series win since 2004, and the first series sweep in Minnesota men's professional sports history. The series saw [[Anthony Edwards (basketball)|Anthony Edwards]] ascend into rarefied air, becoming the 2nd player under 22 to record a 30/5/5 statline in multiple playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Starting 5, April 29: Jalen Brunson's record, Wolves' sweep highlight historic Sunday|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-starting-5-april-29-2024|website=NBA.com|date=April 29, 2024|access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> His performance spurred widespread comparisons to a young [[Michael Jordan]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anthony Edwards hears your Michael Jordan comparisons, but 'it's just not possible' |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/anthony-edwards-hears-your-michael-jordan-comparisons-but-its-just-not-possible |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> even from Jordan himself.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasciolla |first=Anthony |date=2024-03-19 |title=Michael Jordan Agrees With Comparison Between Him And Anthony Edwards |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/backinthedaynba/news/michael-jordan-agrees-with-comparison-between-him-and-anthony-edwards |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Sports Illustrated Back In The Day NBA News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref>

In the conference semifinals, the Timberwolves squared off with the [[Denver Nuggets]] in a highly anticipated rematch of their 2023 first round series. After a nailbiter Game 1, the teams spent the next five games trading blowouts, leaving things 3–3 heading back to Denver for Game 7. Down 15 points at half, the Timberwolves led a miraculous comeback, winning the game 98–90 and securing a spot in the [[NBA conference finals|Western Conference finals]] — 20 years to the day of their last conference finals appearance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krawczynski |first=Jon |title=No more pretending, no more being the laughingstock, the Timberwolves and KAT have arrived |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5505355/2024/05/20/karl-anthony-towns-timberwolves-game-7-nuggets/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Their run ended when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games.<ref>{{Cite news |author=The Athletic Staff |title=How Luka Dončić keyed Mavericks to Game 5 blowout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5531179/2024/05/30/timberwolves-mavericks-result-5-takeaways/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In the 2024 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves acquired the rights to Kentucky guard [[Rob Dillingham]], the 8th overall pick, from the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in exchange for a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap (top-1 protected).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolves acquire rights to 8th pick Rob Dillingham from Spurs for future draft pick, swap |url=https://www.nba.com/news/timberwolves-spurs-trade-rob-dillingham-2024-nba-draft |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref> They also selected [[Terrence Shannon Jr.]], a guard from the [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|University of Illinois]], with the 27th overall pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timberwolves Select Terrence Shannon Jr. 27th Overall in 2024 NBA Draft |url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-select-terrence-shannon-jr-27th-overall-in-2024-nba-draft |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref>