Minnesota Timberwolves: 7 Things To Look Forward to This Season

The Minnesota Timberwolves were the worst team in the NBA last year, so there wasn’t a lot to look forward to last season except for the end of it.

Now that the 17-65 record is wiped clean and everyone starts at zero, there are many things to look forward to.

Granted, the Wolves aren’t looking forward to many wins this year, but I’ll guarantee that the Wolves will get a couple more than 17.

The Logjam of Forwards

A couple days before the draft, everyone started noticing the Wolves had a bunch of forwards, and they weren’t sure if the Wolves would actually draft Derrick Williams or not.

Well, David Kahn pulled the trigger, kept Williams and even made a bigger logjam at the three and four.

It’ll be interesting to see how the new coach will split the time between Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Anthony Tolliver, Anthony Randolph, Derrick Williams and a couple more that I probably forgot.

There will be enough playing time to go around; the center position is pretty thin.

Darko and His Haters

Darko Milicic has always been criticized due to the fact that he was drafted so high and never added up to what a No. 2 overall pick should do.

Granted he was drafted before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, but he has been a very productive center with the Wolves. Last year, Darko started every game he played (69), averaged 5.5 rebounds a game, two blocks a game and a career-high 8.8 points per game.

Now this doesn’t sound like a huge output of production, but that’s huge numbers compared to past T-Wolves centers like Michael Olowokandi and Rasho Nesterovič.

Look for Darko to gain a little more respect from the nation after this Wolves squad improves and wins over 20 games and maybe—gulp—maybe compete for a playoff spot.

Ricky Rubio's Impact

Darko’s stats will go up if Ricky Rubio does what he is projected to do.

Everyone’s stats (except for Luke Ridnour) will go up if Rubio can distribute the ball as advertised.

The Wolves were 25th in the league in assists last year and needed to improve on that in the offseason; Ricky Rubio should help right the ship.

The Coaching Search

Now that Ricky Rubio is here, David Kahn is sure he wants that run-and-gun team he’s always dreamed of, but now, he needs that coach that will actually run.

Kurt Rambis was a horrible coach; he didn’t even like to play his best player (Kevin Love), but his stint will always be remembered for the horrible mishandling of his firing by the one and only David Kahn.

Now big names are interested in the Wolves job like Don Nelson, Larry Brown and Rick Adelman.

Let’s hope Kahn doesn’t screw this one up and doesn’t hire the no-name assistant that nobody would touch with a ten foot pole.

The Thing Kahn Will Screw Up

I don’t know what, but it will happen.

It never fails that David Kahn screws up something every year, and it’ll probably be something big this year because it looks like the Wolves may finally be on the right track.

It may be the hiring of the wrong coach, it may be an idiotic trade that sends Kevin Love packing, and in return, we get a bucket of water.

Whatever it is, watch out for the Kahn screw up.

Can Love Keep It Up

Assuming the Kahn-man doesn’t trade Kevin Love, he should keep up the All-Star productivity.

The league’s leading rebounder may have his rebounds go down this year, and that’s mainly due to the Rubio factor.

With Rubio distributing the ball, there will probably be less rebounding opportunities for Love, but in the long run, more wins for the Wolves. Besides you can’t rebound a Ricky Rubio alley-oop to Derrick Williams.

Derrick William's Rookie Campaign

No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams will suit up for the Wolves and should be running wild throughout the season, if there is one. With a horrible draft class Williams have a great shot at being the Rookie of the Year.

He has a lot more around than Kyrie Irving and I’m a little bit of a homer. Super athletic forward on a supposedly run-and-gun team, Derrick Williams is my odds on favorite to be NBA Rookie of the Year.