(a sorta) League Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves

New York is slightly better than the League’s sorriest because they have a team identity, a shared concept of what they are trying to accomplish. Sure, they lack the talent to really make much noise. But good, consistent team play has the potential to at least make them competitive. Such is also true for the Northwest Division’s worst team.

Minnesota Timberwolves

PG Jonny Flynn Chucky Atkins
SG Damien Wilkins Wayne Ellington
SF Ryan Gomes Corey Brewer
PF Kevin Love Brian Cardinal Oleksiy Pecherov
C Al Jefferson Ryan Hollins Mark Blount

The likely acquisition of Ramon Sessions to the T-Wolves is a potential season savior. The Wolves re-building effort has left the cupboard pretty bare in the Wolves backcourt. Jonny Flynn is a bit of an x-factor. But he is a rookie on a team without many shot blockers to clean up his inevitable mistakes. Not good. That where the Sessions as savior bit comes in: The stability and leadership he provides on the perimeter gives the T-Wolves a shot at respectability. Look for he and Flynn on the court together, as Wilkins and Ellington are easily the weakest tandem of two guards in the League.

I love the front line of the Wolves. Like those classic Bullets teams of the 70s and 80s, what they lack in length, they bring in brawn and brains. Not a bad way to roll. Jefferson and Love both possess a number of unique talents. Big Al’s feathery touch is poetry in the post. Love’s control of the space around him in the paint is nearly master level. Though under-sized, they will be formidable for all comers. Ryan Gomes is another short on length and long in game. Look for these three to play very well together.

I had the Wolves among the sorriest until the anticipated arrival of Sessions. They are slightly more talented than your full tear down rebuilding effort. But not much. With Sessions, the Wolves swim among the fair to middlin, with the lower half of the lottery still quite possible. If Sessions stays in Milwaukee, the Wolves are looking at 20 wins max.