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Minnesota Timberwolves: 2017-18 NBA season preview

By Josh Cornelissen

(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best-case scenario

This Minnesota Timberwolves team is bursting with talent. Jimmy Butler was an All-NBA player last season, a true two-way wing who put together an excellent campaign despite being surrounded by mediocre talent on the Chicago Bulls. Karl-Anthony Towns had a breakout offensive season, just missing the All-NBA cut himself. Both project to factor heavily into the All-Star conversation.

If Andrew Wiggins can take a step forward, this team will win a lot of basketball games. If Towns can grow defensively as the anchor of this team, it will win even more. If Butler stays healthy, Tyus Jones proves capable over a full season as the backup point guard, and Nemanja Bjelica gives them anything, this team will win a very high amount of their games.

Tom Thibodeau is, last season aside, a great defensive coach. A healthy and productive season from this team could realistically mean the fifth-best offense in the league and the 10th-best defense. Such level of play would mean a win total in the low-50s.

Worst-case scenario

As highlighted on the last slide, this team hasn’t proven anything yet. Jimmy Butler is a talented player, but his team was only the eighth seed in a weak Eastern Conference last season. His new team is more talented, but that talent hasn’t translated to wins yet.

Teague is a point guard used to having the ball in his hands, but Butler, Wiggins, and Towns all want the ball as well. That doesn’t even factor in Jamal Crawford, signed to a surprisingly lucrative deal as a bench scorer. Who gets the ball in Minnesota, for how many shots per game, and who gets to decide?

A lack of defensive improvement from the team’s young players, inefficient offensive seasons from Wiggins and Muhammad, and a regression in shooting by Teague could easily result in failing to meet expectations. After finishing 27th in defensive rating, an improvement to 20th and staying steady around 10th in offense could mean a season around .500 — growth, but certainly not of the kind this team expects.

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