What if…the Minnesota Timberwolves kept Lauri Markkanen?
By Ethan Becker
What would happen to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2019-2020 season?
Going into this season, the hopes are high for the Timberwolves. There’s not a ton of defense going on, but there is a lot of offense and a lot of young potential.
However, young players tend to have problems getting going from the start, and because Minnesota’s roster is so young, they struggle. They drop seven of their first 10, and people think it’s over. Then, the team starts to gel. They win their next eight, lose just one, and win five more. After this stretch, they’re 16-8.
Come the time of the trade deadline, Minnesota is 28-22, and now they face a problem. There are worries that Towns might be looking for greener pastures if the Timberwolves can’t pair him with either Devin Booker or D’Angelo Russel. The Golden State Warriors, who are suffering a lot of injuries, still reeling from losing Kevin Durant, and currently have Russell, make an offer. Wiggins, our 2021 first and second, and Markkanen for Russell, Jacob Evans III, and Omari Spellman.
In the end, Minnesota takes the deal. They choose to give up one of their promising young players in order to secure their young, but to this point unproven, star in Towns.
The trade ends up shaking Minnesota’s chemistry, and they only win two more games before the bubble, going into the hiatus 30-34. They are quickly bounced from the bubble, and are left in the lower lottery without a solid fit for their pick.
During the offseason, Minnesota mainly works on some minor retooling. They don’t have a lot of cap space, and the question of what exactly next season looks like hangs over their head like a sword of Damocles.