2019-20 Finish: 30-52

Season Highlight:

Well, it�s tough to find the highlight to the season on a team that has a losing season like this, however there were some good things done. Mainly the drafting of LaMelo Ball, then the recovery of lost Minny picks, and the team now has a clear direction and that is one of rebuild. This team lacked direction, but they were built for competing so the turnaround is underway.
 
Season Lowlight:

The lowlight has to be the season itself, 30 and 52 was sufferable, with Steph Curry on the mend for most of the time. This team and it�s trades were confusing because leadership took a while to decide what it wanted to do. That led to assets going away and not many Ws resulted.

Best Trade:

A lot to unpack here so I�ll not focus on every single trade, I�ll look at the most impactful, ok?

Timberwolves gets: LaMelo Ball, Coby White, Okogie, Isaiah Stewart, Batum, Mclemore
Timberwolves sends: Steph Curry, 3x 2nd rounders

Alright so let�s see here. Trading a superstar is a really big gamble for any team and it rarely works out, so this is the baseline, however for a 32 year-old star with some injury history, Steph�s value was somewhat low. Digga was probably the best offer out there and the Wolves took (should they have tho?). Now for what they got. A great draft pick, a high one, Coby White, which Ethan is super high on, Okogie and stuff really.
Let�s not lie to ourselves, this trade will be evaluated solely on how much of a star LaMelo Ball and Coby White become, if they hit it big, then maybe it�s worth it. In the end, this cemented the rebuild and the fate of the Wolves for years alongside the Middleton trade. Wait and see here
 
Worst Trade:

Timberwolves sends: 1st MIN �22 & �24, 1st MIA �20 (RJ Hampton)
Timberwolves gets: 1st MIN 21, 1st POR �23, 3x �21 2nd rounders

Alright, this makes my head hurt a little, but I understand the reasoning behind this. You�re a rebuilding team trying to defend the rebuild and hoping you�re better in the future. If all goes according to plan, the Wolves will be better in 22 and be competing, right? Not so fast. When any team in rebuilding, however promising it is. If you hit all the right notes, it could take years for 2k to catch and you becoming a competitive team frequently. On a rebuild, having your own pick is the most precious asset. This trade mortgages the future a little bit more and I don�t really like it.

Other Notable Trades:

Timberwolves gets: Middleton, Temple, Mcw, Swanigan, Hezonja
Timberwolves sends: Hield, Graham, Dedmon, Nance, two 2nds

First thought here is that this is a good one because you get Middleton, the best player in the deal and send away 2 main players that may as well have peaked already so I evaluate this nicely. For future purposes, this was when Minny was still trying to win.

Timberwolves gets: Dragic, Snell, Dedmon, 1st WAS �21
Timberwolves sends: Steven Adams, KCP, Darius Miller, 1st Min �21

I mean, this is a clusterfuck, in hindsight, you lose the best player, the best pick and doesn�t get much back, however you, the reader need to understand that Minny wasn�t on a rebuild bacck then, so the hope was that by 21, that pick would be just fine. Oh well, eventually, as I�ve alluded to, that pick found it�s way back to Minny on a handsome finder�s fee.

 

Free Agency:

Jordan Clarkson - UFA - Has told his family and friends he wishes to stay with the team and it�s mutual so we expect a re-up.
Jacob Evans - RFA - Probably RFA, but the team hasn�t expressed interest in retaining per site, but I might be wrong. I say he stays.

Star:

Mitchell Robinson

So many pieces on the team that flew around, stars which are no longer there, so I preferred to talk about a guy who�s there in Mitchell. He can in and was pricey to get from Boston, but he�s there. One of the most athletic players in the NBA for his position, no doubt about it! He oozes potential, however that ceiling might just be limited by basketball IQ related issues. He commits too many fouls and has some glaring holes that need to be addressed. That said, this guy has DPOY potential if focused and in the hand of a good coach. He can be an anchor at that spot for Minny for a long time. Patience is required, though.

Goat:

This guys is leaving the team, but come on, it cannot be any other than Nic Batum. This cat just flat out gave up after signing his big contract and I think it must be shameful to walk into meetings with MJ in the room when you know you�re flat out stealing 27 million dollars a year from the team for no returns. This dude will sign elsewhere and no negative cap impact for Minny. Good riddance.



Draft Grades:

Picks: LaMelo Ball, Saddiq Bey, Isaish Stewart

A Grade

This has to qualify as an A because LaMelo has the potential to be the best player in the draft, and though I�m not that big of a fan, I can understand the reason for all the allure. There aren�t many 6-7/6-8 humans on this planet with this great of a feel for the game and passing. There are other holes in his game but much less talented players have made it. He is the future of Minny and the player that can guide this team into new heights.
Bey is solid as a rock as prospect and he�s got that archetype of 3 & D that everybody is looking for right now. GM Ethan is a fan.
Then it was Stewart, the biggest faller in the draft, NSL, that is. My guy has a great strong base, great rebounder and an above average floor, he�s a great value at that spot.

The Future:
What to say of the future, if you�re a Wolves fan, you now have somebody to root for, well actually a main trio, LaMelo, Coby and Mitch. You guys do everything you need to do so that these guys feel happy and don�t wanna leave you. They need time and patience to develop, and if LaMelo hits it big, then you�re talking about a player who can take you to new heights. GM Ethan is sold on the prospect of Coby White being a multiple time All-star, and that�s him saying, so you have to take that into account. As a real life Bulls fan, I hope to any Gods that he is 100% correct. Mitch needs to focus but it�s there and we can all see it! Buckle up for the rebuild, it�s going to be bumpy, but exciting too. 2021 draft is right around that corner and we�ll add another guy to these three, hang in there!

C: Mitchell Robinson / Isaiah Stewart 

PF: Kuzma / Aminu / Ariza

SF: Josh Okogie / Miles Bridges / Saddiq Bey /Jingles

SG: Coby White / Dillon Brooks / B. Mclemore

PG: LaMelo Ball / Jordan Clarkson / Jacob Evans