2010 Timberwolves
Ever since Kevin Garnett left the Timberwolves franchise to join the Boston Celtics, the franchise has been on a downhill spiral. Enter new GM David Kahn and new Head Coach Kurt Rambis and the team, which had four #1 draft picks last season, just couldn’t put it together. It’s hard to win in this league on a team with no stars.
The Wolves have one last opportunity, the final game of the season against Detroit, to not break the franchises worst record. "I don't think this team doesn't care. We go out every night and try to win as many games as possible. We go out every night and do our job. If we tie the record, it was meant to happen," Wolves forward Al Jefferson said recently.
Previous Seasons
The Minnesota Timberwolves took a step back in 2004-05 NBA season and missed the playoffs for the first time in several years. Kevin Garnett is out to make sure that doesn’t happen again. New head coach Dwane Casey believes he has the pieces to make a run at the playoffs. With Garnett on the floor, it’s hard to argue with the first-year head coach. But it won’t be easy, as the Western Conference is loaded once again with some of the NBA’s top teams. Minnesota basketball fans are used to the struggles, though.
Pro basketball returned to Minnesota in 1989 as the Minnesota Timberwolves arrived as an NBA expansion team. The Timberwolves were an immediate hit with the basketball-starved crowds, drawing huge numbers of rabid fans that filled the Metrod. The Timberwolves success on the court in that first year though was much less than fans hoped for, as the T’Wolves finished at 22-60. The Minnesota fans would have much more to endure over the coming years. The Timberwolves failed to make the NBA Playoffs until 1997.
The turnaround began in 1994 with the drafting of Kevin Garnett by GM Kevin McHale. Along with the pick of Garnett, McHale traded away previous stars such as Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks to garner the services of Andrew Lang and Spud Webb. The drafting of Stephon Marbury with the 4th pick in the 1996 draft gave the Timberwolves a team that could contend in the NBA. The T’Wolves went on to post their first playoff appearance in 1997 and made the postseason every year for the next eight years.
In 2004, the Timberwolves notched their best season in franchise history with a 58-24 record. Along the way Minnesota signed stars like Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell. The accumulation of talent began to pay dividends late in the season. Garnett won the NBA MVP Award; the Timberwolves had the best record in the Western Conference, and more importantly, the momentum to go deep into the playoffs.
The Timberwolves made news this summer when they traded star player Kevin Garnett, the face of their team, to the Celtics. Minnesota traded him for Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and Ryan Gomes along with two first round draft picks – a history making NBA deal. They will have to rely on Ricky Davis in the coming season, and his numbers have increased to the point that he will be a trading commodity when his contract expires in ‘08-09. Fans can also count on Craig Smith continuing to shine into next season. On the downside, the Timberwolves will have continue to deal with Marko Jaric’s freefalling game and Mark Blount’s injuries. Timberwolves ticket buyers know that ’07-08 is a key season –Minnesota needs good, young talent and draft picks, while at the same time staying within their budget.
