2014-2015 in Review
The Minnesota Timberwolves were the worst team in the NBA last season and finished 16-66, one of three teams to win less than 20 games. The T-Wolves barely edged out the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks for the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and, with that, selected Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns. They now have the past two first overall draft picks in Towns and Andrew Wiggins, who was the 2014-2015 Rookie of the Year.
Ricky Rubio was hurt for the majority of last season, a big reason they finished with the worst record in the NBA. Rubio played in just 22 games, which allowed Zach LaVine to emerge in his place. LaVine was the Timberwolves' first round pick in 2014 and officially caught the attention of the NBA world with his dazzling victory in the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest. Littered with young talent, the Timberwolves made several moves during the 2014-2015 season to improve their roster, namely, trading for old-timer Kevin Garnett.
New Additions
Karl-Anthony Towns
The first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft carried with him a lot of hype and there is a general consensus that Towns will be a very good NBA player. The seven-footer did not put up crazy numbers in his freshman season at Kentucky (10.3ppg, 6.7rpg), but increased his averages in the Las Vegas Summer League. Towns averaged 12.8 points-per-game and 7.2 rebounds-per-game in his first few games with NBA players and looks poised to make an impressive splash in his rookie season.
Andre Miller
A great compliment to Garnett, Miller is entering his 17th year in the league and will be 40 years-old by season's end. He has averaged 12.8 points-per-game over the course of his career with seven different teams. Over the past several seasons, Miller has shifted his role to a valuable bench player and while his scoring averaged has decreased significantly, he continues to be praised for his leadership. Miller will back up Rubio at point guard while simultaneously aiding the development of rookie Tyus Jones.
Key Losses
None
Biggest Strength
Balance
The Timberwolves have an incredibly well-rounded lineup going into the 2015-2016 season. They have a plethora of explosive young talents such as LaVine, Wiggins, and Towns, filtered in with several seasoned veterans in Garnett, Miller, and Kevin Martin. If the young guns can live up to their expectations, the Wolves could have one of the more impressive lineups in the league this season. They have balance all over the court and have depth at every position.
Biggest Weakness
Old Legs
As crucial a part of this roster as Garnett and Miller are, they are 20-year and 16-year vets, respectively. Their leadership will be unquestionably invaluable in developing young players. But can their legs keep up? Garnett has started every game he has played in since his rookie season and does not figure to stop now. Miller has not started a game since the 2013-2014 season, but appears to be second on the depth chart behind Rubio at point guard.
It has been hard for the two to complete a full season as of late and Garnett, specifically, has not played a full season since 2004-2005. The buyout of Anthony Bennet puts more pressure on Garnett to stay healthy. In the event one or both of these veterans misses significant time, the Timberwolves' roster would thin out drastically.
Bottom Line
The Timberwolves are poised to make some noise in the Northwest Division. Among three other developing/rebuilding teams, they have the most well-rounded roster and could easily finish as high as second in the division in 2015-2016. There are multiple what-ifs heading into the season surrounding high expectations.
If all goes according to plan, the Timberwolves could end the season above .500 and may even be a playoff bubble team in the Western Conference. Uncertainty looms over the head coaching position, where Sam Mitchell has taken over while President and Head Coach Flip Saunders recovers from treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Mitchell has prior head coaching experience and spent last season as an assistant to Saunders with the Wolves.
Fantasy Slant
Most overrated: Kevin Garnett
Garnett has aged significantly over the past several seasons and his scoring has suffered as a result. He struggled to score double-digits throughout last season and if his rebounding followed suit, it was in the low single-digits. KG still has the potential for a solid fantasy night and, being the veteran that he is, doesn't turn the ball over much. But, in the end, his 20-point days are over.
Most underrated: Kevin Martin
Largely overshadowed by his teammates, the 32 year-old Martin can score points. He dropped 37 points on two occasions in the span of five games in the second half of 2014-2015. Martin is also a strong rebounding guard and approached double-figures on numerous occasions last season. That, coupled with his assists and steals put Martin as high as 47.5 points for a single night in fantasy. A healthy Ricky Rubio could only help Martin's cause as long as the youngsters don't steal the show.
Biggest surprise: Ricky Rubio
Rubio has been consistently productive in his four years in the league. He is one of the better point guards, but is second or third tier at the position. In 22 games in 2014-2015, Rubio recorded one triple-double, but came close on a number of occasions. He does everything on both sides of the ball and is a near-lock for a double-double with a similar style to Rajon Rondo.
While Rubio's tenacity on the boards cannot be overstated, the 24 year-old has never averaged more than 9.0 assists-per-game over the course of a season. If he stays healthy, the Timberwolves' playmaker-filled roster could easily change that. Although Rubio's role as a scorer will likely decrease, he could be in for a monster year assisting Wiggins and Towns.