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Minnesota Timberwolves: How a good offseason could have been great

By Josh Cornelissen

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 30: Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 30, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 30: Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 30, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Timberwolves are clearly a winner this offseason. But what moves could have made them even better?

The Minnesota Timberwolves boast one of the most talented young cores in the league, with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns both on a highway to stardom. Under the tutelage of head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau, the Timberwolves were a popular pick to make the playoffs last year.

Even a disappointing season couldn’t dim the brightness of their future — the core was just barely old enough to drink, after all. With another year to grow this team seemed like a virtual lock to ascend to the postseason next year, with more success waiting in the seasons to come.

Rather than rely on internal growth, Thibodeau and the Minnesota front office decided to speed up the timetable. On draft night they pulled off a blockbuster deal, sending Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the seventh overall pick to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler and the 16th pick, which they used on Creighton center Justin Patton.

Another trade sent out controversial Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio, flipping him to the Utah Jazz for a future first round pick. That cleared up a role and cap space to sign his replacement, Jeff Teague, to a three-year contract. Defensive bully Taj Gibson followed soon thereafter, and sixth man extraordinaire Jamal Crawford became their latest addition after traveling from Los Angeles via Atlanta.

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The Timberwolves’ series of moves signaled that they weren’t going to wait out super-teams in Golden State or Cleveland, but that they were ready to win now. And no one could argue that Minnesota is a better team than they were a month ago. While nothing is certain in this league, the Timberwolves should be favored to make the postseason for the first time in 14 years.

But being a better team doesn’t mean they are the best team. Are there other moves the Timberwolves could have made to set themselves up for even higher heights? Of course every team could be better if they traded for LeBron James or signed Stephen Curry – but there were realistic moves available to Minnesota that it didn’t take.

Looking at each move the Timberwolves made this offseason, what similar one could have yielded better results? How could this team have better built a roster that can soon challenge the very best across the league — and be young enough to take over the throne once they fall? Here’s a look at how the young Wolves could have turned a good offseason into a great one.

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