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NBA Power Rankings: Burning Questions for All 30 Teams

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 2, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) looks on from the bench after fouling out against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Clippers 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) looks on from the bench after fouling out against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Clippers 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (20) guards Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves 100-94. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (20) guards Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves 100-94. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

30. Minnesota Timberwolves

Previous: No. 29

Record: 8-40

Last Week: 1-3

Burning Question: How good can a healthy roster be?

The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA. They’re also the worst team in the NBA, which makes the long-term potential both interesting to study and disappointing to watch for any local fans.

The upside: the T-Wolves are healthy again.

Over the past week or so, the likes of Kevin Martin, Nikola Pekovic and Ricky Rubio have all returned to the rotation. They join Rookie of the Year front-runner Andrew Wiggins, two-way impact players Gorgui Dieng and Thaddeus Young, and the dangerous backcourt combination of Zach LaVine and the resurgent Mo Williams.

Breakout scorer Shabazz Muhammad is still sidelined by an oblique injury, but even he is set for a return in the near future.

The question is, how good can this healthy roster be?

The returning trio of Martin, Pekovic and Rubio all offer a high grade of production. Martin is averaging 19.8 points per game, Pekovic is tallying 12.4 points and 7.5 rebounds, and Rubio is at 9.5 points, 9.0 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steal.

With Muhammad averaging 13.7 points in 23.3 minutes on a slash line of .488/.413/.722, Minnesota is returning four of its most dangerous offensive weapons.

If Wiggins continues to build upon his recent success—he averaged 19.8 points in 17 January games—the T-Wolves will have an actual core of high-caliber players to build with.

Next: Now What?