Minnesota didn’t make another move Thursday as the trade deadline came and went. But that doesn’t mean the Timberwolves are done adding to their roster.

Minnesota still has to fill a roster spot — and has two available should it choose to use them. Yes, Minnesota could occupy that spot by elevating a two-way player. But the Wolves are also expected to be active in the buyout market.

Players who are traded essentially as salary dumps are sometimes bought out of their contracts by the team that trades for them, making those players free agents to sign wherever they’d like.

As a current top team in the West, the Wolves are suddenly an attractive landing spot for such players. And Minnesota has some of its mid-level exception to play with, meaning the team can offer a player more than a $3 million deal that pro-rates to $1.5 million for the remainder of the season while remaining under the luxury tax. That’s more than the minimum-level contract many other suitors can offer.

One name to watch is Spencer Dinwiddie, who was dealt from Brooklyn to Toronto on Thursday and was immediately waived by the Raptors.

Dinwiddie is a veteran combo guard who can both create for himself and others and is serviceable on the defensive end. That combination of abilities would seem to make him an ideal player for what Wolves coach Chris Finch prefers from his bench ball handlers.

WEST LOADS UP

One day after Minnesota fortified its reserve backcourt with the acquisition of veteran Monte Morris, many of the Wolves’ Western Conference contending counterparts made moves to improve their chances of playoff success ahead of Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline.

Dallas spent multiple first-round picks to add a new No. 1 center in Daniel Gafford from Washington as well as stretch power forward PJ Washington from Charlotte.

Phoenix utilized three second-round picks to obtain “three-and-D” wing Royce O’Neale from Brooklyn and defensive wing David Roddy — a Breck alum — from Memphis.

Oklahoma City acquired veteran forward Gordon Hayward.

Each of those moves undoubtedly made each playoff team “better” and a more imposing threat as we head down the backstretch of the regular season.

The Thunder have another playmaker and scorer to assist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Willliams in that department. Dallas added needed size and shooting to better surround Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, and Phoenix added defensive versatility and toughness, while not sacrificing shooting around its big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Exactly how much each team improved Thursday will be determined over the final two months of the regular season, and beyond. But the urgency with which teams addressed their needs this week demonstrates how open teams toward the top of the conference perceive the Western race to be.

That race is officially on. And the number of potential contenders to claim the West crown may have just ballooned.

WOLVES SET FOR ALL-STAR SATURDAY

Karl-Anthony Towns will attempt to win his second 3-point shootout title on All-Star Saturday night.

The big man was the upset victor in 2021 to claim his first such title. He didn’t participate last year as he missed a large chunk of the season with a calf strain, but he will indeed fire away from deep again this season in Indianapolis.

The all-star forward was 12th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (43.7) ahead of Thursday’s tilt in Milwaukee.

Towns will do battle with Trae Young, Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell and former Wolves teammate Malik Beasley.

Towns’ all-star teammate Anthony Edwards will also participate in the Saturday festivities. Edwards — the top selection in the 2020 NBA Draft — will be part of a skills challenge team made up entirely of former No. 1 picks, joining 2022 top pick Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in 2023.

The team of No. 1 picks will take on a team made up entirely of the host Pacers and another team made up of three other all-stars.