Embarrassing for the T-Wolves

[Celtics18]

Seven years after losing Kevin Garnett, they are now on the cusp of losing Kevin Love due to the same problem. 

The problem being that apparently nobody wants to play in Minnesota.  They haven't been to the playoffs in ten years, and the way things are going, it will probably take at least another ten before they have any shot at making another one.

Frankly, I'm embarrassed for that franchise.  That's an expansion team that probably should have never happened. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Seven years after losing Kevin Garnett, they are now on the cusp of losing Kevin Love due to the same problem. 

The problem being that apparently nobody wants to play in Minnesota.  They haven't been to the playoffs in ten years, and the way things are going, it will probably take at least another ten before they have any shot at making another one.

Frankly, I'm embarrassed for that franchise.  That's an expansion team that probably should have never happened.

It may very well be true that no one wants to play there, but the Wolves have also been horrible at drafting, from selecting way too many (inferior) point guards to swinging and missing on an undersized PF in Derrick Williams. I suspect that if they'd drafted a couple of other good players besides Love, they would've at least made the playoffs by now, and maybe Love would be content to stay there.

[cman88]

its due to horrible management...there are certain teams that are desinted to be bad constantly just because they are so poorly run. Cleveland is another one of those...

[More Banners]

With 30 teams and a handful of premier markets and/or franchises, there are probably 20 so-so to crappy franchises to play for.  NY, BOS, CHI, LA each have a big market and some history/glory (been a while for NYK), but that's only 6 teams.  Throw in big spending-Cuban in Dallas, Popovich's system in San Antonio, and the weather in Florida and Arizona, plus Texas, and there are roughly a dozen "good" places to play.

Travel on the West Coast takes too long, even for within division games, and it's a historically tough conference (no Toronto).

Minny is pretty much screwed unless they're quite shrewd and very, very lucky.

They got Love, which was either or both, but they needed to bring in more and didn't.  Martin was a mistake; need more on the wing to make it.  They needed to bring in someone midseason to bolster things, but I don't think they did much.

If Love stayed, they might have a chance...

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Seven years after losing Kevin Garnett, they are now on the cusp of losing Kevin Love due to the same problem. 

The problem being that apparently nobody wants to play in Minnesota.  They haven't been to the playoffs in ten years, and the way things are going, it will probably take at least another ten before they have any shot at making another one.

Frankly, I'm embarrassed for that franchise.  That's an expansion team that probably should have never happened.

I think its more about the bad management and the team not losing.

Let's not forget OKC is a small market team but them being contenders in the West would attract some FA's and would lead to Westbrook and Durant possibly staying for more years.

Not only Minny is a small market, they are a losing small market team. No one would want to be on that situation.

[D.o.s.]

Seven years after losing Kevin Garnett, they are now on the cusp of losing Kevin Love due to the same problem. 

The problem being that apparently nobody wants to play in Minnesota.  They haven't been to the playoffs in ten years, and the way things are going, it will probably take at least another ten before they have any shot at making another one.

Frankly, I'm embarrassed for that franchise.  That's an expansion team that probably should have never happened.

I think its more about the bad management and the team not losing.

Let's not forget OKC is a small market team but them being contenders in the West would attract some FA's and would lead to Westbrook and Durant possibly staying for more years.

Not only Minny is a small market, they are a losing small market team. No one would want to be on that situation.

Oklahoma City is also only a small market team because their ownership wanted it that way.

[Eja117]

When you look at the history of drafting and whatnot with the Wolves it is a travesty. You would have had to be trying hard to make the mistakes they made.

[furball]

This isn't the same as KG at all.  KG had to be dragged out of Minny, Love is demanding out.  Huge difference.  The problem is definitely with management.  They draft terribly and make bad decisions.  It's the same problem most bad franchises have, they make bad decisions. 

[Fred Roberts]

Love knows Minny is poorly managed and is not going to get better anytime soon. That's why he's decided to move.

Minny has had every chance to rebuild and they keep whiffing. they could have Al Jefferson, Steph Curry, DeRozan and be in a position to really make some noise. They've blown it time after time. It's not about the city. It's about the franchise sucking wind.

That said, if they keep Pekovic & Rubio and get something out of Shabazz, Dieng and Love's trade bounty then they have yet another opportunity to put something good together. They have to show consistent good management before they start winning the trust of their players and potential free agents. Lucky for us, the Celtics have that reputation and confidence from many players and agents around the league.

[MBunge]

Minny has had a lot of bad luck in the draft but picking Rubio and Flynn back-to-back in 2009 has to be one of the dumbest things any franchise has ever done.  Even though Flynn turned out to be a bust you could probably have justified picking him, but having two lottery picks in the same year and taking two guys who play the same position?

Mike

[Al91]

Horrible management...same can be said for Cleveland the past couple years post-LeBron. I can't remember every individual draft class but they're appears to be so many players that are gambled on later in the lottery or later in the first round, even early second rounders, that develop into quality NBA players.

The more I think about it, it's not just the ownership and general manager but the coaching staff too. I don't think it's too far-fetched to believe that Pop and the boys could take some of the D-League/College/Barely NBA caliber players on the Magic or 76ers rosters and make them into quality players. You don't see that kind of development on almost any other team, let alone Minnesota.

Seriously, I think many posters here could do a better job running the franchises like Minnesota, Orlando, or Philadelphia better than those actually paid to do it. I feel like so many of these people are just out of touch and not passionate about basketball the way you should be. Or they just don't care.

[Emmette Bryant]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/you-realize-how-badly-the-t-wolves-screwed-up-the-2009-draft-right/

[obnoxiousmime]

Rubio was not a bust, at least. Flynn was definitely a bad pick though.

They had some talent around garnett in the old days like sprewell, brandon, marbury, and cassell, but Marbury and Sprewell were head cases. Also McHale getting burned by Stern for breaking the salary cap rules hurt them a lot.

It was also a tough time in the Western Conference with the Spurs and Lakers being so dominant.

The reason they traded Jefferson was because he and Love ostensibly couldn't play well together. I can understand that because despite his talent we all know Jefferson isn't really a franchise-changer.

Since Garnett left they just haven't had much of an identity. Love is a good player but he doesn't have the star power of a Garnett. It doesn't help that this year he seemed already checked out, which is something teammates can probably feel in the locker room. Still, they were around 500 in a historically competitive Conference, that's not necessarily shameful. In the east they would have been an up-and-coming team. Were they much worse than the Wizards this year? I doubt it.

[Eja117]

Minny has had a lot of bad luck in the draft but picking Rubio and Flynn back-to-back in 2009 has to be one of the dumbest things any franchise has ever done.  Even though Flynn turned out to be a bust you could probably have justified picking him, but having two lottery picks in the same year and taking two guys who play the same position?

Mike

Minnesotta has a history of way more than just bad luck. Getting caught breaking rules and having 5 first rounders taken from you...and then being given one back only to use it on Ndudi Ebi....that has nothing to do with luck.

[acieEarl]

Majority of the problem with the T-Wolves is that it's in MINNESOTA. Cold weather and not exactly the best night life. Garnett was a rare breed. Loyal to contract to and the the team.

I wish Lebron just said, Ya I'm going to Miami, because it's not Cleveland. Warm weather, night life, better players around him. What would you pick? Sure he could have got more money in Cleveland but still got a boat load of money in Miami.