8. Minnesota Timberwolves
At least thus far, the Minnesota Timberwolves have made the biggest splash in the Western Conference this offseason by acquiring Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster deal. Question is, how will it all work out for the Wolves?
And that depends on many things, including how he’ll fit next to D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, and Karl-Anthony Towns. In theory, it should help the Wolves take another step in their progression. But how far will that raise them in the West standings?
For now, I have the Wolves penciled in as the No. 8 team in the West. With the rest of the conference getting healthy, this is exactly where they should start the season. Though, with how talented this roster is on paper, there’s no question that they could move up as the season progresses.