The Minnesota Timberwolves committed to rebuilding when they traded Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer and while the reality of needing to trade another franchise player hurt at the time, it certainly appears to be a move that has accelerated the team’s rebuilding process. Minnesota finished with the worst record in the NBA last season but they also had the Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and won the draft lottery, which provided them with the first overall pick in this year’s draft, Karl-Anthony Towns.
The influx of young talent inspired Ricky Rubio to say that he thinks the Timberwolves will make the playoffs this season. While that may have been a reach, it isn’t impossible to think they could at least contend for a postseason position as early as this season. Here is a look at what needs to happen for the T-Wolves to come through on Rubio’s promise.
1. Rubio Stays Healthy
Perhaps the biggest surprise wasn’t that the comment was made but that it came from Rubio, who played in just 22 games last season because of injury. The fifth overall pick from the 2009 NBA Draft has struggled to stay healthy over the course of his four-year career but he did play in all 82 games in 2013-14, so there is still reason to believe this could be a breakout season for him. Rubio averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game in 22 starts last season and if he is able to match those averages over the course of a full 82-game season, he’ll be the quarterback for their playoff charge.
2. Andrew Wiggins Becomes An All-Star
The first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft took home NBA Rookie of the Year honors last season after he averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists while playing in all 82 games for Minnesota. Most impressive was the progress that he made throughout the year while showing no fear against some of the most talented players from around the NBA.
His improvement was reflected in his numbers as he averaged 20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the final 29 games after the All-Star break. Those are pretty impressive stats for a young player that just turned 20 this year and didn’t have the strongest supporting cast around him. That means expectations are high for him again heading in to this season. For the T-Wolves to get the playoffs, Wiggins needs to continue along his trajectory and become an All-Star. If that happens and Rubio stays healthy, the T-Wolves will have a very good foundation.
3. Towns Plays At ROY Level
Minnesota is the first team in NBA history to have three-consecutive No. 1 picks on its roster at one time and now they have an excellent shot at having back-to-back ROY winners after making Towns the first overall pick in 2015. The 6’11’, 250-pound center is expected to step right in as the Timberwolves’ starter with Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic set to come off the bench behind him. That is some impressive depth at the center position but the key is for Towns to play at high level. If he’s ROY material, then that means the T-Wolves will have a trio of studs to work with.
[related_post_one]
4. Supporting Cast Steps Up
The Timberwolves will have plenty of additions to this year’s lineup that weren’t around last year – including the first-overall pick Towns, free agent addition Andre Miller and the returning veterans Rubio and Kevin Martin. That is a considerable reload for a team that showed flashes last season. This roster is loaded with young players poised to step up and take on bigger roles. Rubio, Martin, Wiggins, Kevin Garnett and Towns represent a pretty good starting five but Minnesota will also rely on its supporting cast with Miller and former first-round picks Dieng, Adreian Payne, Anthony Bennett and Zach LaVine all being asked to step up. That should lead to considerable improvement for a team that finished with the worst record in the NBA last season. If all of the above falls their way, the Timberwolves could be in contention for a playoff spot next season.
