Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 reasons to not be pessimistic about the future

The Minnesota Timberwolves have followed up a playoff berth in 2018 with a season full of chaos, bad luck and disappointment. Nevertheless, not all is lost for the franchise.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have realistically been out of the playoff hunt for over a month, but after dropping a fourth straight game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night, the death knell is finally sounding on the 2018-19 season. Sitting at 32-39, Minnesota has colossally disappointed, particularly after the franchise’s playoff berth last season had fans and those within the organization hopeful for the future.

Beyond the embarrassment that Jimmy Butler‘s sideshow turned the franchise into, the Timberwolves have never been a beacon of prosperity since coming into the NBA in the 1989-90 season. The Wolves have made the playoffs just once since the 2003-04 season, and have won just two playoff rounds in team history.

Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love both squandered significant parts of their career trying to drag outmatched rosters to respectability, and now the clock seems to be ticking yet again on Karl-Anthony Towns‘ tenure.

Throw in the caustic history of hockey, baseball and football, and Minnesota sports fans are among the most tortured fans in American sports. Don’t let stereotypes of niceness and the size of the media market distract you — cheering for Minnesota’s teams is damn difficult. That’s why it’s understandable that Timberwolves fans have soured on the team’s future in the wake of another lackluster year.

Despite that circulating pessimism, I’m here to explain why the Timberwolves will be fine going forward. Optimism may be a bridge too far, but there’s no need to sulk about the years ahead.