Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview

Minnesota Timberwolves

2014 Record 16-66

2015 O/U 25.5

Who are their stars?

I don’t know if you can call it a break out year for the second season of a former number overall pick, but I am all aboard the Wiggins train. I think he is going to be a great two-way basketball player and now at age 20 the team is his. What is most impressive aside from his 16.9 ppg average is that he played in all 82 games. If Wiggins can gain a little muscle, and extend his depth of his shots he will be a super star before age 23 and he is climbing up the list already. The drafting of Karl Anthony-Towns is a great fit for the T-Wolves. These two young, long players can run up and down the floor. With KAT I expect some growing pains, but has a shot, and he has a post presence that can eventually make this duo bring real attention Minnesota.

Who are the glue guys?

What makes the drafting of Towns so good is that their last big time star, Kevin Garnett is here to teach him how to win in Minnesota. No one can introduce a 6’11 freak athlete at his age better than the seasoned vet who spent 13 years in Minnesota. Garnett has more rotational talent, and will be in a frontcourt rotation that will involve Towns, but the locker room affect needs to be noted for a guy with a work ethic like KG. Aside from KG, Ricky Rubio is a true glue guy on the court. He isn’t the greatest scorer, but his ball handling and play making ability can fit with the two young players when looking toward the future.

Who are the rotational players?

What makes this team better than some of the others is its talent in rotations. Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic are not world beaters, but both have starting experience, and now with both rotating with KG and KAT you have to like that you should be getting high quality minutes at all times. KG will probably start, but will see the least amount of minutes, and that is fine as it gives them a chance to rotate second year Adrien Payne in. As the T-Wolves should, when you look at Payne, they can be looking at a long-term spell for KAT who can sub in behind him at times. With Wiggins being a driver more than shooter, it is nice to have guys like Payne, Towns, and Dieng be able to step away from the basket and be a presence. Their frontcourt may be just as strong as their backcourt in terms of rotation. Kevin Martin is another guy who can continue to space the floor, and create kick out opportunity for the driving Wiggins. Guards Zach Lavine, Tyus Jones, and Shabazz Muhammad are all more creators than shooters, and with Jones only being 19 there may be little to expect from him. It seems as though Wiggins will be playing almost every minute at the three, and the three of them rotating two guard positions with Rubio, and the occasional Muhammad at the three. It at least makes sense on paper, and when a guy like Jones at 19 is promising, and Muhammad at 22, and Lavine at 20, you have guys to build with, and you have something to get ready for the future with.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far can they go?

I am on board for the Timberwolves to bounce right back, to a pick outside of the top five. Not too bold, but this team will be better than last year. It is inflicted in the betting number of 9.5 more wins, but I would lean to a few more. I think Wiggins is here to stay, and this team can peak around the nine seed, but I see them a touch lower, causing 2016 to be a potential breakout season.

Over 25.5 wins, 11th in the Western Conference 21st in the NBA