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5 Teams Who Could Make The NBA Playoffs Next Season

By Carter Johnson

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Timberwolves

The draft has been mighty good to the Minnesota Timberwolves the past three years as they’ve been able to build one of the more formidable young cores in the league — one they added to this offseason.

With the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft, the Timberwolves picked up Providence point guard Kris Dunn, adding him to a talented group of youngsters that includes the past two Rookie of the Year award winners in Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns as well as 2-guard and two-time Slam Dunk Champion Zach LaVine.

With a solid build, tremendous passing ability and a knack for hard-nosed defense, Dunn has the skill set to arguably be the best rookie contributor from Day 1.

As other notable youngsters Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng and Tyus Jones continue to contribute and develop at a rapid rate, all this young T-Wolves squad needed was some more veteran leadership and some solid direction.

Both were more than addressed as the Wolves added veteran players with championship experience in center Jordan Hill and wing Brandon Rush and handed over the head coaching and basketball operations reigns to defensive guru Tom Thibodeau.

Related Story: Minnesota Timberwolves: 2016 Offseason Grades

Thibs’ track record speaks for itself as he’s instantly turned every team he’s coached into a top-10 defensive unit and his impact on this young team is expected to be more of the same.

With a budding superstar in Towns, a solid second option in Wiggins, Thibs’ defensive prowess and the best young unit in basketball, the T-Wolves look primed to make the leap from up and comers to contenders this coming season.

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