The NBA season is just over a month away, and the preseason will be here before we know it. The Minnesota Timberwolves kick-off exhibition play against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 4. Just 18 days later, the Wolves will battle the Lakers again on opening night.

Also playing on opening night are the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Of the four teams kicking off the NBA season, three rank within the top six in ESPN’s odds to win the 2024-25 NBA Championship—with the Lakers ranked ninth.

Of course, the Celtics hold the best odds, but the Wolves, the Western Conference runner-ups, come in at sixth. Besides Boston (+300), the Oklahoma City Thunder (+800), Philadelphia 76ers (+800), New York Knicks (+825), and Denver Nuggets (+875) land ahead of Minnesota (+1000) in ESPN’s offseason title odds.

Despite the Wolves returning most of their team, they have longer odds than Philadelphia, New York, and Denver. Sure, Boston is a guaranteed contender, and the Thunder return a fantastic young core alongside two terrific offseason additions—but the next three squads are questionable.

Although the 76ers return their best players—Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey—the rest of the roster is full of new additions. Philadelphia made one of the biggest splashes in free agency, signing 34-year-old Paul George. Other than the veteran small forward, the Sixers added Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Jared McCain, Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, and Guerschon Yabusele. The team will look vastly different from last year’s squad, giving reason to doubt Philadelphia’s title hopes.

New York, like Philadelphia, made a huge play in free agency, trading for former Brooklyn Net Mikal Bridges. While Bridges has yet to suit up for the Manhattan-based squad, he spent his collegiate years at Villanova next to current Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo.

Unlike the 76ers, New York remains somewhat similar to the previous season. However, the Knicks lost one of their best assets from last year’s 50-win team. Isaiah Hartenstein, who started every playoff game a season ago, bolted for Oklahoma City in free agency. Next season, New York will rely on Mitchell Robinson (53.3 games played per season for his career) to hold down the interior. Aside from the void in the middle, the Knicks will look to build chemistry between Julius Randle (46 games last season), OG Anunoby (23 games), and their new addition in Bridges.

Finally, the team Minnesota defeated to advance to the Western Conference Finals, Denver, ranks lower than the Wolves in championship odds. It’s duly noted the Nuggets are perennial contenders with Nikola Jokic in the fold, but, the same team that lost to Minnesota in the playoffs less than six months ago is returning an identical roster minus Kentavious Caldwell-Pope—their best perimeter defender.

It’s preposterous to assume a Nuggets team (always light on depth) will surpass the Wolves in terms of contending status. Minnesota returns its seven highest-minutes players and will count on another leap from young stars, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.

If any team should rank ahead of Minnesota, it’s the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs defeated Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals a season ago and added all-time-great shooter Klay Thompson in free agency. In addition to the Thompson acquisition, the Mavs can bet on internal improvements from Dereck Lively II and increased roster cohesion after numerous trade deadline additions.

Realistically, holding the third or fourth-lowest odds is respectable for Minnesota. The roster is stacked with veterans yet reloaded with several high-ceiling contributors such as eighth-overall selection Rob Dillingham. The Wolves aren’t entirely counted out, but fuel is already being added to the proverbial fire.