Needless to say, things for the Minnesota Timberwolves have not gone well ever since superstar and franchise face Kevin Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics at the end of the 2007 season. Frustration was building for the forward after three straight seasons without a playoff appearance, and a trade of some sort had been on the horizon long before it happened. The Wolves traded Garnett for Al Jefferson, a young, talented post player, some draft picks and a few other players who have since moved on from Minnesota. Jefferson had been dubbed the unofficial replacement for Garnett, and while he was more than effective in the time he was here, the Wolves could never manage to put a serviceable team around him. Nonetheless, Jefferson was traded to the Utah Jazz this offseason for two draft picks and center Kosta Koufos, all but erasing any consolation the Wolves had received from sending the greatest player in their history to Boston.
The Wolves have managed to win 61 totals games in the three seasons since Garnett left, leaving fans apathetic and at times oblivious their state even has a pro basketball franchise. David Kahn was named president of basketball operations in 2009, and he has done everything he can to give the Wolves roster a fresh-faced and promising face. While the promising aspect has yet to be determined, the Wolves are coming into the 2010-2011 seasons as one of the youngest teams in the league, with the oldest player on the team being 29-year-old Luke Ridnour.
The drafting of Wesley Johnson and acquiring of forwards Martell Webster and Michael Beasley has given the Wolves a more athletic team than the previous two seasons. The forwards are the strength of the team. Beasley can both drive to the basket and take a jump shot, and Wesley Johnson should be an excellent marksman. 2008 first round pick Kevin Love has quietly become one of the most consistent rebounders in the league and should receive more playing time nightly than he did last year, something that become a subtle area of controversy for the Wolves. The team put a huge amount of money in center Darko Milicic and will look to heavily utilize him at the position along with newcomers Nikola Pekovic and Kosta Koufas. If Milicic plays consistently and up to his contract, it should allow Kevin Love to flourish at his more natural power forward position rather than play at a spot he is a bit too undersized to really succeed in. Beasley will likely be used at small forward where his athleticism will be tested against players smaller and quicker than him. Forward Anthony Tolliver, another acquisition, will be an interesting wild card off the bench. Though he is listed at 6-7, rookie Wes Johnson will see the majority of his time on the perimeter as a shooting guard, where he will be able to use his fantastic shooting ability which has been showcased training camp and the preseason so far. Guard Corey Brewer is renowned for his defensive prowess, although his dribbling and shooting skills still leave much to be desired.
One question mark of the team is the point guard position. Second year player Jonny Flynn, though undoubtedly the most skilled point guard on the roster, was turnover-ridden and inconsistent last season and will not be ready for the start of the season. Luke Ridnour will be the starting point guard at the start of the season, giving the Wolves a veteran presence in the backcourt. Though Ridnour is one of the more intelligent players on the team, Flynn's quickness and explosiveness will surely be missed when Minnesota has to go up against some of the premier point guards in the league. Sebastian Telfair gives the team depth at the position.
Projected Starting Lineup:
C- Darko Milicic
PF- Kevin Love
SF- Michael Beasely
SG- Wesley Johnson
PG- Luke Ridnour
Season Prediction: 24-58
While this season will be an improvement over the woe and misery of last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have light years to go until they are anything even resembling a playoff threat. David Kahn has constantly encouraged fans to be patient with the team and coach Kurt Rambis. However, Rambis has had a full year to put his system into place, while at the same time Kahn has gone out and found his own players. Several of Kahn's moves have led to frustration, confusion and most importantly, indifference, in Timberwolves fans, and many view this as the year Kahn needs to put his money where his mouth is. If there is any future for the Wolves, there needs to be some signs of life and potential on the court this season. There is no real franchise player of the team like there previously was with Kevin Garnett and even Al Jefferson, leaving the auditions to the likes of Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson. If one or more of them can embrace the leadership role and set an example for the other inexperienced players, brighter days may be ahead for owner Glen Taylor and his team. Until that day comes, the Wolves will continue to be an afterthought on the Minnesota sports landscape.
No comments:
Post a Comment