My Rational, Realistic Take on The T-Wolves 2017-2018 Season

By Muk

Alright, so for any of you who know me, you know I'm a huge Timberwolves fan, and have been since they acquired Andrew Wiggins in 2014. I said before that year's NBA draft, wherever Wiggins goes, that team will wholeheartedly become my second favorite team behind the Miami Heat (who have now slid into second behind the Wolves since D-Wade's departure).

When the Wolves drafted Karl-Anthony Towns, I knew we got a bonafide superstar, and someone who would take the pressure and weight off of A-Wiggin's shoulders. Now I'll admit, I jumped the gun last year and completely over estimated Kris Dunn's ability, and thought he would contribute tenfold more than he did, but that is now in the past, because the Wolves made a move on draft night that will send this franchise to the next level.

For the past two seasons I have been saying this team needs a veteran leader, and not someone like KG in his final years with Minnesota, but someone who can lead on and off the court. Now, never in my wildest dreams would I imagine that the player the Wolves would get would be someone of Jimmy Butler's caliber. 

It is still being rumored that the Wolves are looking to move PG Ricky Rubio, and for who, I don't know, but I have to assume they would look for another point guard, but for the time being, lets just assume Rubio stays.

A starting-five of Rubio, Butler, Wiggins, Deng, and Towns, is a lineup that I absolutely love. Rubio is a pass first PG, and a good one too, and with him feeding Jimmy Buckets, Wiggins, and KAT all day, the Wolves offense will be able to explode. The biggest key in my opinion is that Butler is the perfect player to take some pressure off of Wiggins, and allow him to play to his strengths.

My rational prediction for how this season will turn out, has the Wolves finishing in the 7th or 8th seed in the West. The Wolves were 10 games out of a playoff spot last season, and with their stars all still being young last year, (and this year), plus it being head coach Tom Thibodeau's first season with the franchise, there is obviously room for improvement as these guys continue to grow as individuals and a team.

I genuinely believe that if things stay on course for Minnesota, they will find themselves in a top 4 seed in the West within the next 2 or 3 seasons, and I for one, can't wait.