The Timberwolves Future
The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004, which is the longest current drought for not making the postseason and tied for third longest all time. The Wolves current roster consists of two young stars capable of putting up 20+ points per game. The one thing they’re missing is a veteran star that is in his prime and could lead them to a playoff appearance. During the week of the 2016 NBA Draft, their was reported talks between the Chicago Bulls and the Wolves about the Wolves acquiring Jimmy Butler. At the time, the Bulls didn’t have Rajon Rondo and their was a good chance that point guard Kris Dunn would be available at number 5 which was the Wolves pick. The trade would look something like this:
BULLS RECEIVE:
Zach LaVine
5th overall pick in 2016 NBA Draft
Future first round pick(s)
TIMBERWOLVES RECEIVE:
Jimmy Butler
The trade talks fell off, and the Timberwolves drafted Kris Dunn at the 5th overall pick. Dunn ended up only averaging 3.8 points per game, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game and was starting to be deemed as a bust. For me, he isn’t a bust yet because he’s only played one season. One thing about Dunn is that he stayed all for years at college and is a 23 year old point guard just finishing his first year in the League. Zach LaVine, who could’ve been traded ended up averaging 18.9 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 2016–17 season. His season was cut short due to an ACL injury, which hurts a player like LaVine who relies on athleticism.
One of the main things that hurt the Wolves was their defense. The Wolves were ranked 24th In total defense for the 2016–17 season. Even though they have a top center in the league in Karl-Anthony Towns, they still allowed 46.2 points in the paint per game, which was ranked 25th in the league. One good thing they were good at was getting steals, as they averaged 8 steals per game and were ranked 12 in steals per game. The Timberwolves hired one of the best defensive coaches in Tom Thibodeau and still were horrendous on defense.
This was the Timberwolves 2016–17 roster and their 2016–17 season performance:
PG: Ricky Rubio (75 games played, 11.1 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 9.1 assists per game, .402 Field Goal Percentage)
SG: Zach LaVine (47 games played, 18.9 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game 3 assists per game, and .459 Field Goal Percentage)
SF: Andrew Wiggins (82 games played, 23.6 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and .452 Field Goal Percentage)
PF: Gorgui Dieng (82 games played, 10 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, and .502 Field Goal Percentage)
C: Karl-Anthony Towns (82 games played, 25.1 points per game, 12.2 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, and .542 Field Goal Percentage)
PG: Kris Dunn (78 games played, 3.8 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, and .337 Field Goal Percentage)
SG: Brandon Rush (47 games played, 4.2 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, 1 assist per game, and .374 Field Goal Percentage)
SF: Shabazz Muhammad (78 games played, 9.9 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 0.4 assists per game, and .482 Field Goal Percentage
PF: Nemanja Bjelica (65 games played, 6.2 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, and .424 Field Goal Percentage)
C: Cole Aldrich (62 games played, 1.7 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, 0.4 assists per game, and .523 Field Goal Percentage)
PG: Tyus Jones (60 games played, 3.5 points per game, 1.1 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game, and .414 Field Goal Percentage)
SG: Lance Stephenson (6 games played before being cut, 3.5 points per game, 1.7 rebounds per game, 0.8 assists per game, and .476 Field Goal Percentage)
SF: Omri Casspi (13 games played, 3.5 points per game, 1.5 rebounds per game, 0.8 assists per game, and .487 Field Goal Percentage)
PF: Adreian Payne (18 games played, 3.5 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game, 0.4 assists per game, and .426 Field Goal Percentage)
C: Jordan Hill (7 games played, 1.7 points per game, 2 rebounds per game, 0 assists per game, and .385 Field Goal Percentage)
PG: John Lucas (5 games played before being waived, 0.4 points per game, 0 rebounds per game, 0.2 assists per game, and .333 Field Goal Percentage)
As you can see, the Timberwolves have basically three young 20 point scorers but they still can’t make the playoffs. As we’ve said, that is mainly due to their defense. During the week of the 2017 NBA Draft, trade talks between the Chicago Bulls and many teams, including the Timberwolves, were going on about the 27 year old shooting guard Jimmy Butler. (Before the Timberwolves did end up trading for Butler, I made an article on why the Wolves should trade for him so make sure to check that out). The main teams we heard about being involved in a potential Butler trade included the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Phoenix Suns.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were extremely close to a three team trade that would send Kevin Love to Phoenix, the 4th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to Cleveland, Jimmy Butler to Cleveland, and the 4th overall pick to the Bulls. Now those would be the main pieces as their most likely would be a player or two or draft pick or two also involved. The Bulls reportedly had big interest in Kansas small forward Josh Jackson who has a big chance at being available at 4. The trade fell apart after the Cavaliers GM David Griffin resigned due to him and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert arguing over the future. If you want to check out more about the David Griffin firing, check out my article about what the Griffin firing means for the Cavaliers. That left the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves as the main teams in the Jimmy Butler Sweepstakes. The Celtics reportedly declined a deal that would send Butler to the Celtics and the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to Chi-Town. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls trade started getting tension about an hour before the 2017 NBA Draft. Around the start of the Draft, the deal was finalized and looked like this:
BULLS RECEIVE:
Kris Dunn
Zach LaVine
7th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft
TIMBERWOLVES RECEIVE:
Jimmy Butler
16th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft
Now to say who won and who lost this trade, we have to look at what each team is getting.
In Zach LaVine, Chicago is getting a 6’5, 189lbs combo guard that is coming off a 18.9 points per game season and an ACL injury. For a player like LaVine that relies on his explosiveness and athleticism, an ACL injury can really ruin your career. We don’t know what’s next for the 2-Time Dunk Contest Champion as he could start struggling off the injury or he could be back to being a 20 point scorer. Dunn on the other hand is a 6’4 23 year old point guard entering his second year in the League. As we’ve said before, Dunn has been called a bust as only averaging 3.8 points per game In his rookie year as he was the 5th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Dunn could be a bust, he could be a average player, or he could be a star in Chicago we just don’t know. Now looking at those two players alone, I don’t think this is a good trade for Chicago. I do like the acquisitions of Dunn and LaVine, but the thing is where do they fit in in Chicago? Dwyane Wade recently signed his $23.8 million dollar player option to stay another year in Chi-Town. Now Wade plays shooting guard, so it doesn’t make sense to have two starting caliber shooting guards on the same team. Now LaVine could be a hit or miss due to the ACL injury and Wade is getting older and out of his prime, but still. At the point guard position, it doesn’t make sense. The Bulls have Cameron Payne, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn. Now Payne is coming off an injury and Dunn is coming off a bust-like season. Rondo is starting to be in trade rumors after the acquisition of Dunn, but he played really good in the postseason for Chicago. I think the Bulls try to move Jerian Grant or Cameron Payne due to the fact that Rondo is a free agent in 2018. They are stacked at the guard position so unless they buyout Wade and trade Payne or Grant or Rondo, I don’t think that’s good for the Bulls. Now the Bulls did also get the 7th pick. Besides the fact that their stacked at the guard position, I was liking the first report that didn’t have the Bulls giving up the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Then we found out the Bulls also traded the 16th overall pick. In my opinion, that completely changed the trade. I knew Jimmy Butler had to be traded because he isn’t really fitting in Fred Hoiberg’s system, but not for this. The Bulls are getting two hit or miss players and moving up nine spots in the draft for a star player that is in his prime? At the 7th overall pick the Bulls drafted Lauri Markkanen. Now many think Markkanen will be a bust, but I really like him. Markkanen is a 7 footer that can shoot, and I mean shoot. Hes basically what Porzingis was thought of when he came into the league, and look at him now. Now I’m not saying Markkanen is Porzingis, but they have very similar play styles. Markkanen just needs to develop a stronger post and driving game and I think he can be an All Star caliber player. Even though Nikola Mirotic is set to become a FA, they do want to re-sign him. Mirotic and Markkanen off the bench is a really good shooting core. Now if Markkanen can improve his post and driving game I think the Bulls will have a good young frontcourt of Markkanen, Portis, and Mirotic. Now I don’t like this trade for Chicago and the Timberwolves obviously won this trade, but Chicago has a big hit or miss and if they hit, their future looks bright and exciting.
The Timberwolves got what they needed. They got a veteran star who can defend in Jimmy Butler. Butler was a 3-time NBA All Defensive Second Team under current Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau and also won Most Improved Player in 2015 under Thibodeau. Butler is coming off a season in which he was All NBA Third Team and a All Star Game starter. I think the future is really bright for Minnesota with Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jimmy Butler. Not to mention, the Timberwolves also acquired the 16th overall pick from the Butler trade and drafted Justin Patton who was one of, if not the best centers in the draft. The Timberwolves cap situation is looking like this:
Jimmy Butler: $18,696,918
Ricky Rubio: $14,250,000
Cole Aldrich: $7,300,000
Andrew Wiggins: $7,574,322
Karl-Anthony Towns: $6,216,840
Jordan Hill: $4,088,020
Nemanja Bjelica: $3,949,999
Gorgui Dieng: $14,112,360
Tyus Jones: $1,397,400
Justin Patton: $4,915,080
That is a total of $82,500,939. They recently cut Nikola Pekovic ($12,100,000) and they traded Kris Dunn ($3,872,520) and Zach LaVine ($2,240,880).
Their 2017 free agents include Brandon Rush ($3,500,000), Shabazz Muhammad ($3,046,299), Adreian Payne ($2,022,240), and Omri Casspi ($138,414). They have about $20,000,000 in cap space to sign a big name free agent. The Timberwolves are reportedly interested in signing a point guard this year and trading Ricky Rubio. A few days before draft night, the Mavericks and Wolves apparently had a talk about sending Rubio and the 7th pick to Dallas for Wesley Matthews and the 9th pick. In my opinion, the Wolves would be acquiring a worse pick and player so I’m glad this trade didn’t go down. The Timberwolves top free agent priority is reportedly Kyle Lowry. If they don’t land Lowry, they have reported interest in George Hill, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick Rose. I believe the Wolves have a good chance at acquiring Lowry and maybe making their bench better this offseason.
In conclusion, the Timberwolves have one of the brightest futures in the NBA. They picked up a star that is phenomenal at both ends of the court which they needed. They also have lots of cap space to potentially land a star such as Paul Millsap or Kyle Lowry. I think they are a definitely a playoff team, and if they get another star in the offseason and upgrade their bench they have a good shot at being a top 5 team in the Western Conference. Thank you for reading and make sure to check out my other articles!
