30 Teams In 30 Days: Minnesota Timberwolves

[CelticBalla32]

For those unfamiliar, basically what I'm doing is making decent-sized team previews, one per day in alphabetical order. Today's featured team is the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Teaser:

When you’re a rebuilding franchise, as the Minnesota Timberwolves have been since they traded Kevin Garnett in July of 2007, you firstly want to build your foundation with as much talent as possible; not fill in your holes. Kevin McHale chose the opposite direction.

To be fair, I’ll openly accept the possibility that Mayo fails to live up to the hype. But even if that becomes the case, my opinions on this deal remain. When you’re in the state that the Timberwolves are currently in, you’ve got to swing for the fences with a mega-talent like O.J. Mayo. With this deal, McHale set Minnesota up for mediocrity rather than bringing the team the possibility of a star-studded base.

I’m not drinking the “haterade,” but as skilled as Kevin Love is, he can only dream of possessing the upside of an O.J. Mayo.

Read the Full Article Here

Tomorrow: New Jersey Nets


Previous Entries:

30 Teams In 30 Days: Atlanta Hawks
30 Teams In 30 Days: Boston Celtics
30 Teams In 30 Days: Charlotte Bobcats
30 Teams In 30 Days: Chicago Bulls
30 Teams In 30 Days: Cleveland Cavaliers
30 Teams In 30 Days: Dallas Mavericks
30 Teams In 30 Days: Denver Nuggets
30 Teams In 30 Days: Detroit Pistons
30 Teams In 30 Days: Golden State Warriors
30 Teams In 30 Days: Houston Rockets
30 Teams In 30 Days: Indiana Pacers
30 Teams In 30 Days: Los Angeles Clippers
30 Teams In 30 Days: Los Angeles Lakers
30 Teams In 30 Days: Memphis Grizzlies
30 Teams In 30 Days: Miami Heat
30 Teams In 30 Days: Milwaukee Bucks

[cordobes]

As usually, a very good reading.

When you’re a rebuilding franchise, as the Minnesota Timberwolves have been since they traded Kevin Garnett in July of 2007, you firstly want to build your foundation with as much talent as possible; not fill in your holes. Kevin McHale chose the opposite direction.

Curiously, I believe McHale shares the same believe you do (with which I wholeheartedly agree as well) regarding the principle that should guide your drafting process. I think the difference is that you have opposite opinions on who's the best of both rookies. In fact, Mayo would be a better fit for Minny if the criteria was the need to fill holes. More so, when Love wasn't, and isn't, the best fit for that team. In my view, McHale drafted Mayo with the intention of trading him for Love and gain some pieces in the process. Miller was just a bonus and I don't think the Wolves see him as an integral part of their future - I wouldn't be surprised if they are shopping him by the end of season.

I also disagree on your take on Love's defense. He'll never be an elite defender, for sure. But he's going to be solid. He has very good fundamentals, he contests shots with both hands, he has the strength to keep his position and is quick enough to hedge the P&R. And he was a great defensive rebounder, a skill that generally translates well to the pro-game. He lacks the length, the size and the athleticism to be a defensive anchor. But, as long as he's paired with someone who can, at least to some extent, make up for his short-comings, he will be far from being a liability - like, for example, Big Al is.

The Wolves weakness is indeed the defense because a Love-Jefferson combo is not a good fit and the rest of their team, except Gomes and Brewer, is rather weak defensively. Love doesn't help them a lot but he's an improvement.

I absolutely agree with what you write about Brewer. I've read his shot is much improved. That should excite Minnesota fans. Can be a very big thing for that team.