2019-20 NBA season: Record predictions for every team

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a precarious position. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are entering their primes — young enough to be considered young, but old enough to spark anxiousness about the Wolves’ current predicament.

Towns is a generational talent on offense. He spreads the floor, handles in smooth, long strides, and creates opportunities few players his size can create. Towns alone will keep Minnesota competitive, as was the case last season. It’s as simple as getting Towns more help.

One potential bright spot is the return of Robert Covington, who earned Defensive Player of the Year hype before succumbing to injury in 2018. Covington is the defensive backbone Minnesota desperately lacked in years past. His versatility, instincts, and communication skills are top-notch.

If Covington can improve the Wolves’ D while hitting a steady dosage of threes, there’s a good chance Minnesota improves on the surface. He’s a borderline top-50 talent as is, with the potential to move higher with a healthy 2019-20 season.

Beyond Covington, it’s about time Wiggins steps to the plate. The Wolves have been waiting on a leap from Wiggins for quite some time. There’s no guarantee if or when it will come, but it’s something Wiggins promised before signing his extension.

The Wolves will run up-tempo offenses that get Towns involved early and often. His scoring and playmaking at the center spot combined with Covington’s glue-guy defensive brilliance could elevate Minnesota to new heights. The West simply has too many contenders to slot Ryan Saunders’ club in the top eight.

Final prediction: 38-44, Miss NBA Playoffs