NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Western Conference Projections
By Shane Young
15. Minnesota Timberwolves — 21-61
Hardest month: February (.567)
Weakest month: January (.484)
Back-to-backs: 19
Glen Taylor should pick up his phone, sort through his contacts, and call his buddy Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He needs to be taught how to handle a superstar leaving his team.
Wait, perhaps Gilbert isn’t the man to call. After all, he handled LeBron’s 2010 free agency departure in the worst fashion possible. Sending a letter full of hatred is not how you wish a man — and your friend — the best moving forward.
After losing Kevin Love via encouraged trade, Taylor already ignited the sniveling. Agreeing to conduct an interview on Love and what the future holds, Taylor gave a harsh impression that Love never played defense effectively, and that he would feel the backlash in Cleveland. If a losing stretch hits the Cavaliers, it’s either the fault of Love, Kyrie Irving, or the supporting cast that isn’t performing up to par.
For any soul in the world that believes Taylor didn’t get a load in return for Love, their mind needs to be questioned. Two No. 1 overall picks in consecutive drafts (Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins), combined with a high-flying guard in Zach LaVine and a veteran, scoring forward in Thaddeus Young is what he now has under contract. Taking Bennett out of the equation, that plate is full of satisfying exchange. Sure, Bennett turned frowns into winks during the Las Vegas Summer League, but losing pounds and gaining back athleticism doesn’t always propel you to No. 1 pick value.
Some guys are meant to fit the “draft bust” stereotype, and Bennett’s True Shooting Percentage of 42.5 as a rookie gave us the worst rookie season in over 35 years. Nobody, even all the injury-plagued No. 1 picks in 35 years, has shot a lower overall percentage. We shouldn’t be quick on the optimism. That has to be earned, and warranted.
Golden State could have given the Timberwolves a better shot at the postseason next year if they would’ve dealt Klay Thompson and David Lee, but clinching onto a top two 3-point shooter (Thompson) shouldn’t really take the league by surprise.
The team now belongs to what projects to be Minnesota’s two highest paid pieces; Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic. Rubio will be seeking a max contract in summer 2015 (continue reading after you fall down laughing), and Pekovic already received his $60 million deal in 2013. Rubio won’t see the money he desires if Taylor knows how to manage his business properly, and that’s only based on the fact he can’t produce scores for himself unless it’s within two feet.
Nonetheless, the defense should look less lethargic and more enthused. With four young bodies coming along (some to possibly hide Kevin Martin‘s man-to-man deficiencies), the perimeter pressure should increase.
That’s where Rubio garners the attention he deserves, on the defense end. Of all Timberwolves in 2013-14, Rubio accumulated the highest Net Plus-Minus for the season (+381). Plus-Minus, as we know, tallies the point difference a team racked up when a certain player was on the floor. Thus, Rubio was beneficial on both ends, leading to a large impact in terms of out-scoring their opponents.
In point guards across the league, Rubio’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus of +2.47 was second to only one; Eric Bledsoe, who played half the season.
As far as being a voice of leadership is concerned, Rubio has been the better option than Love all along. He’s upbeat and never lets his teammates get down on themselves, and you won’t find the Spaniard pointing any fingers.
This is a project in Minnesota. It’s been a long-term project since 2008, even if they put their hearts into a playoff run during Love’s tenure.
It’s back to square one. In this odd offseason scenario, however, square one may have been the square they’ve needed all along. Seats won’t fail to sell with the most anticipated college prospect in a decade sparking the rebuild.