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Exit Survey: 3 goals for the young-and-hungry Minnesota Timberwolves

By Luke Duffy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Edwards #1, D'Angelo Russell #0, and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 121-120 in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Anthony Edwards #1, D'Angelo Russell #0, and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 121-120 in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – APRIL 16: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during Game One of the Western Conference First Round at FedExForum on April 16, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

3 goals for the young-and-hungry Minnesota Timberwolves: 3. Build on the good vibes

Do you know who likes winning? Everybody, especially a Timberwolves franchise that has done little of it since Kevin Garnett was in town (the first time). So, the franchise needs to cash in on this good feeling and ensure that it rolls over into next season.

How can they do this while still realistically being a team that will flirt with being .500 next season and isn’t close to winning a championship? There are two other organizations that the Timberwolves can look at, and who they can take tips from in order to keep the positivity flowing around the team.

The first is the Dallas Mavericks. Outside of Luka Doncic, there isn’t a whole lot going on. Some nice roll players for sure, with Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, and Spencer Dinwiddie all having their moments, but we know it is all about one man, and that is Doncic. That one man propelled them all the way to the Western Conference finals this season.

Is Edwards good enough to do that for the Timberwolves? Actually, he is. More than that, in Towns and Russell, he has teammates that are capable of playing on a level higher than any of those that Doncic had around him as they made it to the last four. That is wildly encouraging, especially as the Mavericks stumbled during the regular season as well.

If it all goes wrong though, simply rooting for Edwards to be an All-Star or Towns to be the scoring champion next year can still be enjoyable. Orlando Magic fans know this all too well, having watched Nikola Vucevic become a two-time All-Star during his tenure there.

The team did nothing else (bounced from the postseason at the first stage twice), yet that period of Vucevic being recognized is still remembered fondly. The Timberwolves need to spend their summer aiming for these kinds of scenarios to unfold.

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