NBA: 5 Reasons the Timberwolves Will Be the Team To Look for This Year

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been an irrelevant team for awhile now. Yes, bringing in Kevin Love was a great move, but in all reality they have not played well since the days of Kevin Garnett.

With a new influx of young talent though, the Wolves future may just be changing in a way that no one has been expecting.

Here are the top five reasons that the Timberwolves may actually make an impact this season, especially since the season has been shortened due to the lockout. 

5. J.J. Barea

J.J. Barea was one of the best free-agent signings by the Timberwolves. Barea brings with him a championship from Dallas and the mentality that the Wolves will need to make a deep playoff run.

This, along with the fact that Barea can mentor the younger guards, will make the Wolves more dangerous when June comes around. 

4. Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley has had many off the court problems in his time with the NBA. The shortened year and him staying out of trouble could be a good thing for the Wolves, though.

If Beasley can keep his act together then the Wolves will have a solid piece to make a deep run in the weakened Western Conference.

3. Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams will play a huge role in the Timberwolves lineup and could possibly be the best person to take defenders away from Kevin Love.

Love is the centerpiece that Minnesota has been building around and with the addition of Williams they could have found just the right fit for the team. 

2. Kevin Love

Kevin Love had one of the best years in 2011 The perennial All-Star could easily do the same this year with the Timberwolves, building around the young future of their team.

With Love playing like he is capable, he could make the Wolves a contender for the Western Conference as most of the older teams will be looking to put together one last run. If given the chance, Love could help the Wolves become the team to beat for the next couple of years.

1. Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio is the young talent that puts the Minnesota Timberwolves on the verge of being the best team in the West. This young man could easily have one of the best years in the NBA, and with the help of his teammates could make the Wolves a contender to win the NBA Title. 

Rubio will not have his work cut out for him and he is a hard worker in a small market, so the spotlight will not be on him too much.

Rubio will look to bring glory back to Minnesota with the help of his teammates, and put the Wolves in the playoff picture now and for the foreseeable future.