Minnesota Timberwolves: What if…Jonny Flynn had never been hurt?

2013-2014 Season

The Timberwolves search for a coach in the offseason, but the job search proves a little tougher than expected. But behind the scenes, owner Glen Taylor has been working the phones. Just like in reality, the 2013-14 season sees the return of Flip Saunders to the Timberwolves, and with an open coaching position, he steps in right away.

Now, Minnesota flourishes. Saunders knows how to coach this team, and with a starting rotation of Rubio, Middleton, Brewer, Love, and Dieng–there’s a feeling of change in the franchise. That season, the Timberwolves add eight wins to what they had in reality, winning 48 games. It’s not quite enough to get into the postseason, the eighth seed Dallas Mavericks had 49 wins, but it’s a sign of hope.

Soon though, things would fall apart. Love, Middleton, and Rubio are all seen as “Saunders guys”, and a year after his death they all start to filter out. The Timberwolves miss out on drafting the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, but the 2016 draft sees them with the number one overall pick. They are in need of a big man, and they trade the number one pick in exchange for the pick that would turn out to be Towns.