The Timberwolves entered the 2017/18 campaign with dreams of making the playoffs for the first time in thirteen years after acquiring Jimmy Butler in a draft day trade. The team made the playoffs with the help of Butler and youngsters Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, but were eliminated by the Western Conference Champion Rockets in the First Round.
This offseason, Minnesota drafted rookies Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop to help sure up the team’s bench for the upcoming season. The team also recently signed veteran Luol Deng, but there has been no promise of playing time for the former Bull and Laker.
The Wolves also re-signed Derrick Rose and replaced Nemanja Bjelica with Anthony Tolliver in free agency, but lost bench stalwart Jamal Crawford. All that said, the biggest impediment to the Wolves making the playoffs for a second straight year will likely be the increased power of the Western Conference, with the Lakers adding LeBron James and the Nuggets a trendy pick to nab a playoff spot this season.
Additionally, the Wolves have been rumored to have some off-the-court chemistry issues, with Butler reportedly frustrated with some of the younger players perceived nonchalance and lack of toughness and Towns yet to sign a maximum contract extension offer.
ESPN’s Power Rankings currently put the Wolves’ as only the 10th strongest team in the Western Conference behind the aforementioned Lakers and Nuggets and other 7 playoff teams from last season.
So today we’re asking you, will the Minnesota Timberwolves make the 2018/19 NBA Playoffs? If so, who won’t? If not, who is going to take their place?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
Hopefully not, that way we get rid of Thibs. Would be great to be out of it by the deadline, that way we can recoup a little something from that disastrous trade and seize the opportunity to dump teague and all those ex bulls.
Agree with Arm, you just can’t get rid of someone like Thibs fast enough, the guys is a total joke.
Though the best for Minny would be to miss, I think they just might make it, at the #7-8:
GSW
Lakers
Houston
OKC
Denver
NOLA
Portland
Minny
Just missing the cut for me are Utah & San Antonio, but depending how bad things go in Minny one of them might have the chance to sneak in by the back door.
How does Utah miss? Unless there is an injury they should be much better… And Spurs??? They have almost same team and add Derozan.
Wiggins Butler Teague Towns Dieng Tolliver Diop Deng Patton Gibson
G: Rose Okogie TyusJones
The two lesser starters, Dieng and Teague, have good subs behind them, TyusJones and Tolliver (& maybe Keita Diop), but Thibs may like Rose & Deng. Not sure about Taj Gibson anymore either.
Western conference champions hmm
Good old cesc saying cesc type things. Jazz and Spurs out, but Portland in? Lakers the two seed?
I see the Wolves between 8 and 10, more likely missing the playoffs than being in.
The Rockets will be 2017 Western Conference Champions in my heart
Yeah I saw that too. I’m pretty sure it was meant to read as Western Conference 1 seed or WC best record or something to that effect.
Everyone seems to forget the Wolves were a solid #3 seed until Butler’s injury. Chemistry rumors are baseless. Wolves were one of the highest rated starting fives and bench is much improved. After playing together for one year the defense will improve dramatically especially the 2nd unit. Wolves will quiet the naysayers and finish in Top 5 in Western Conf.