Apr 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Andrew Wiggins(22) dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Year’s Outcome: 16-66, Lottery
Best-Case Scenario: 40-Win Season
Why: This team is young and seems loaded for the future. That being said, the playoffs is just too much to ask from the Wolf Pups this season. They will certainly improve upon their mere 16 wins last season, there is no doubt about that. Armed with the last three number one overall picks (Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns) and a bevy of young talent, combined with veterans, this team could easily increase their win total by twenty wins.
Not only that they could nearly reach the .500 mark. That would be a feat in the Western Conference. If the young talent continues to develop, these Wolves will be downright scary in a few seasons.
Worst-Case Scenario: 22-Win Season
Why: What if the talent does’t progress the way they seem capable of? The Ricky Rubio situation is not solved and he could very well end up being dealt. Kevin Garnett and Andre Miller do offer veteran leadership, but how much do they offer actually on the court? Will Kevin Martin take away shot attempts from the other talented young guns?
Plus, Flip Saunders (prayers out to flip) is away to battle cancer and Sam Mitchell steps in to take the reigns. Add all of this up and they could have another trip to the top of the lottery if things fall poorly.
What Will Probably Happen: 30-Win Season
Why: The best bet is this team falls right in the middle of their best-case and worst-case scenarios. They will be fun to watch. That does not necessarily equate to wins and the Wolves are just not good enough to compete in the west. There is a reason for optimism, of course, and the Wolves will be a good team in the upcoming years. For now, they still appear as bottom dwellers in the wild wild west.
Next: New Orleans Pelicans