The Timberwolves are soon to be one of the best teams in the NBA. A while ago, the Timberwolves seemed like a team which would never be competitive in the West. However, this all changed through a series of NBA Drafts.
2013 NBA Draft
2013 NBA Draft
The Timberwolves held the 9th overall pick in the draft, and used this pick to draft point guard Trey Burke. However, they didn't need Burke due to the fact that they already had point guard Ricky Rubio. Because of this, they shipped Burke to Utah to acquire Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng.
This was a smart move because Burke proved to be not as skilled as many teams believed in 2013. This past season, Burke averaged 10 points and 2 assists a game, while Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng combined to average 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists a game, and also seem to have more potential than Burke.
2014 NBA Draft
The Timberwolves used their pick to draft Zach LaVine, an athletic guard who went on to win 2 Slam Dunk Contests. LaVine also averaged 14 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds a game this past season, becoming more of a scoring threat.
2014 Offseason
Later in the 2014 offseason, the Timberwolves became part of a trade which would change their franchise's future. The Timberwolves traded Luc Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved, and star Kevin Love to Cleveland in exchange for the young Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and Thaddeus Young. Kevin Love was the star of the franchise, but his production level dropped in Cleveland. However, Wiggins joined LaVine, and became the new center of the Timberwolves franchise. Wiggins averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists a game this past season, and is referred to by many as the next Kobe Bryant, who interestingly, wants to train Wiggins.
2015 NBA Draft
Although LaVine and Wiggins showed their potential, the Timberwolves finished with the worst record in the league. However, this awarded them with the first overall pick, and the chance to draft Karl-Anthony Towns, a player who has potential to become one of the best centers in the league. In his rookie season, Towns averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds a game, amazing numbers for a rookie. This Big 3 of Towns, Wiggins, and LaVine has a huge amount of potential.
2016 NBA Draft
The Timberwolves still finished near the bottom of the league this season, acquiring the 5th overall pick. The Wolves used this pick to draft point guard Kris Dunn, one of the best guards in the draft. Dunn averaged 16 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds a game, showing his potential as a point guard. Although Rubio is starting for now, Dunn can come off of the bench and score for the Timberwolves. The Wolves can allow him to grow into his full potential, and then trade Rubio away. Dunn was a smart pick by the Wolves.
The Future
The Timberwolves are set to become one of the league's best teams in the next few years. Ricky Rubio, a point guard who can get a double-double any game, is a great passer who can deliver the ball to the Wolves' primary scorers. Wiggins is a huge scoring threat who will only improve over the next few years, and when he reaches his prime, he will become the best player in the league. LaVine is a guard who is skilled at finishing at the rim, and is a strong scoring threat as well. Towns is already a skilled center, and will become one of the best in the league over the next few years. Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad have shown potential, and can come off of the bench for the Wolves. Kris Dunn has huge potential, as well as time to grow, which he can utilize to become an amazing point guard.
All of these players will lead the Timberwolves in the near future, and will definitely bring home a championship to Minnesota.
Credits:
Statistics courtesy of http://www.basketball-reference.com/
This was a smart move because Burke proved to be not as skilled as many teams believed in 2013. This past season, Burke averaged 10 points and 2 assists a game, while Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng combined to average 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists a game, and also seem to have more potential than Burke.
2014 NBA Draft
The Timberwolves used their pick to draft Zach LaVine, an athletic guard who went on to win 2 Slam Dunk Contests. LaVine also averaged 14 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds a game this past season, becoming more of a scoring threat.
2014 Offseason
Later in the 2014 offseason, the Timberwolves became part of a trade which would change their franchise's future. The Timberwolves traded Luc Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved, and star Kevin Love to Cleveland in exchange for the young Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and Thaddeus Young. Kevin Love was the star of the franchise, but his production level dropped in Cleveland. However, Wiggins joined LaVine, and became the new center of the Timberwolves franchise. Wiggins averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists a game this past season, and is referred to by many as the next Kobe Bryant, who interestingly, wants to train Wiggins.
2015 NBA Draft
Although LaVine and Wiggins showed their potential, the Timberwolves finished with the worst record in the league. However, this awarded them with the first overall pick, and the chance to draft Karl-Anthony Towns, a player who has potential to become one of the best centers in the league. In his rookie season, Towns averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds a game, amazing numbers for a rookie. This Big 3 of Towns, Wiggins, and LaVine has a huge amount of potential.
2016 NBA Draft
The Timberwolves still finished near the bottom of the league this season, acquiring the 5th overall pick. The Wolves used this pick to draft point guard Kris Dunn, one of the best guards in the draft. Dunn averaged 16 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds a game, showing his potential as a point guard. Although Rubio is starting for now, Dunn can come off of the bench and score for the Timberwolves. The Wolves can allow him to grow into his full potential, and then trade Rubio away. Dunn was a smart pick by the Wolves.
The Future
The Timberwolves are set to become one of the league's best teams in the next few years. Ricky Rubio, a point guard who can get a double-double any game, is a great passer who can deliver the ball to the Wolves' primary scorers. Wiggins is a huge scoring threat who will only improve over the next few years, and when he reaches his prime, he will become the best player in the league. LaVine is a guard who is skilled at finishing at the rim, and is a strong scoring threat as well. Towns is already a skilled center, and will become one of the best in the league over the next few years. Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad have shown potential, and can come off of the bench for the Wolves. Kris Dunn has huge potential, as well as time to grow, which he can utilize to become an amazing point guard.
All of these players will lead the Timberwolves in the near future, and will definitely bring home a championship to Minnesota.
Credits:
Statistics courtesy of http://www.basketball-reference.com/
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