Final season in Minnesota — with Jimmy Butler torpedoing the team and ending the Tom Thibodeau era — was pretty much the figurative definition of a train wreck.
Out of that wreckage, the Timberwolves think they found some positives. Ryan Sunders was thrown into the fire as a young coach but bonded with Karl-Anthony Towns. Robert Covington sparked the defense before his injury. Josh Okogie emerged as a player. This summer the team drafted a player with a lot of potential in Jarrett Culver.
Minnesota also brought in the aggressive Gersson Rosas out of Houston to take over as team president and start reshaping the franchise into one that can live up to the promise of Towns’ potential. For that to start to happen, meaning a return to the playoffs, Rosas pointed to a couple of things needing to go right this season. First and foremost, they need more — and more consistency — out of Andrew Wiggins. Via Timberwolves writer/podcaster Dane Moore.
Gersson Rosas received a handful of pressing Andrew Wiggins questions today.@PhilMackey put it greatest — “is Wiggins unlockable?”
Rosas’ response: “We’d like him to be unlockable.”
I don’t suppose Rosas is giving AW any passes, however feels there’s something there price attempting to faucet
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) August 22, 2019
Most Timberwolves followers, and the remainder of the league, have moved on from Wiggins, who has 4 years, $122 million left on his max contract. Whereas he averaged 18.1 factors per recreation final season, he doesn’t get these buckets effectively nor constantly, and the result’s a median/barely below-average wing whose contract is an anchor on the franchise. We’ve discovered no contract is untradable within the NBA, however that is as near that line because it will get — the sweeteners Minnesota must throw in proper now make a deal are prohibitive.
The one factor Minnesota can hope for is that in 12 months six Wiggins takes some steps ahead he didn’t take within the final 5. Possibly continuity helps, however we’re all going to wish to see it earlier than we imagine it.
The opposite factor Rosas mentioned Minnesota wants: Extra constant protection from Cities.
Gersson Rosas when requested about Karl-Anthony Cities’ defensive affect:
“As he goes we’re going to go… You’ll see Ryan use him creatively on the defensive finish.”
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) August 22, 2019
Saunders appeared to attach with Cities and bought him to defend, and Covington performed MIC linebacker calling out coverages and getting guys in place earlier than his damage. Rosas mentioned Covington can be good to go in the beginning of the season, in that case that provides the Timberwolves actual hope that the protection will enhance.
Whether or not all of that shall be sufficient to get them into the playoffs in a deep West is one other query, however no less than Minnesota appears to be shifting in the suitable course now.