Power Rankings
Overall Ranking: 29th
Tier: Bottom-Feeders
Projected Seeding: 15th in West
Let me get one thing straight: this team has probably the brightest future of any team in the entire association. If I were projecting what the power rankings would look like in 2020, I'd likely put Minnesota in the #1 spot with confidence. That said, this is 2015, not 2020, and the Timberwolves are sitting on a plethora of promising, but undeveloped, young prospects. Headlining this group are the past two number one overall picks (which speaks volumes to the team's recent success, even if the former was acquired via a trade): SF/SG Andrew Wiggins, the reigning rookie of the year, and rookie PF/C Karl Anthony-Towns. Other key long-term pieces on this young squad include the high-flying PG/SG Zach LaVine, productive C/PF Gorgui Dieng, and probably the pass-happy PG Ricky Rubio, though the star has been plagued by injuries and his name has even surfaced in a couple of trade rumors, as both LaVine and rookie PG Tyus Jones are behind Rubio on the depth chart. Minnesota also possesses a pair of still-productive veterans from the Kevin Love era, in SG Kevin Martin (32 years old) and C Nikola Pekovic (29). The logical route would be to sell off these pieces for more future assets, such as draft picks or prospects, in order to give their budding stars more playing time, though Pekovic's contract may make him difficult to move. The Timberwolves also have plenty of veteran leaders for their youngsters, who were brought in for seemingly that sole purpose, such as PG Andre Miller, SF Tayshaun Prince, and of course the legendary PF/C Kevin Garnett. Still, all of these factors add up towards Minnesota being ultra-competitive in the future, but for now it is likely in the team's best interest to lose games rather than winning them.
Overall Ranking: 29th
Tier: Bottom-Feeders
Projected Seeding: 15th in West
Let me get one thing straight: this team has probably the brightest future of any team in the entire association. If I were projecting what the power rankings would look like in 2020, I'd likely put Minnesota in the #1 spot with confidence. That said, this is 2015, not 2020, and the Timberwolves are sitting on a plethora of promising, but undeveloped, young prospects. Headlining this group are the past two number one overall picks (which speaks volumes to the team's recent success, even if the former was acquired via a trade): SF/SG Andrew Wiggins, the reigning rookie of the year, and rookie PF/C Karl Anthony-Towns. Other key long-term pieces on this young squad include the high-flying PG/SG Zach LaVine, productive C/PF Gorgui Dieng, and probably the pass-happy PG Ricky Rubio, though the star has been plagued by injuries and his name has even surfaced in a couple of trade rumors, as both LaVine and rookie PG Tyus Jones are behind Rubio on the depth chart. Minnesota also possesses a pair of still-productive veterans from the Kevin Love era, in SG Kevin Martin (32 years old) and C Nikola Pekovic (29). The logical route would be to sell off these pieces for more future assets, such as draft picks or prospects, in order to give their budding stars more playing time, though Pekovic's contract may make him difficult to move. The Timberwolves also have plenty of veteran leaders for their youngsters, who were brought in for seemingly that sole purpose, such as PG Andre Miller, SF Tayshaun Prince, and of course the legendary PF/C Kevin Garnett. Still, all of these factors add up towards Minnesota being ultra-competitive in the future, but for now it is likely in the team's best interest to lose games rather than winning them.