Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 Quick Fixes for T-Wolves' Point Guard Woes

With only 11 games remaining in the regular season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are four games out of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Trailing behind Utah, Phoenix and Portland, Minnesota will need to win almost every game from this point on in order to have a chance at the postseason.

If anyone's been struck by the injury bug this season, it's Minnesota. Just when the Wolves were looking like serious contenders for the postseason, rookie Ricky Rubio suffered a torn ACL, sidelining him for the season.

Evolving center Nikola Pekovic has also been in and out of the lineup with ankle problems, and Michael Beasley missed the last several games due to an injured toe.

More than any other position, though, the point guard spot is looking dangerously thin. With Rubio out and J.J. Barea missing the past six games with a bruised thigh, Luke Ridnour took control on the floor.

When Ridnour crumpled to the court with a sprained ankle Monday night in Sacramento, things became quickly clear—Minnesota needs a point guard, and fast.

Option No. 1: J.J. Barea Returns, Stays Healthy

For someone who rarely—if ever—dealt with injuries throughout his NBA career thus far, J.J. Barea has missed a large portion of his first year in Minnesota.

Most recently having missed six games with a bruised thigh, the 6'0" PG out of Puerto Rico is currently listed as day-to-day, meaning he could be ready to go as soon as Wednesday night against Golden State.

Barea has put up solid numbers for the Wolves this season, averaging 10 points and 4.3 assists per game. While he may not run the floor with the same authority Rubio commands, the former Dallas Maverick adds an energy and quickness similar to the rookie.

Barea is the best-case scenario for starting PG at this point in the season—if he can stay healthy.

Option No. 2: Continue to Work with Malcolm Lee

At only 21 years old, Malcolm Lee doesn't boast much NBA experience. Since being immediately traded from Chicago to Minnesota on the 2011 Draft night, Lee has played in only 11 games.

Coach Rick Adelman has been slow to show confidence in the young UCLA alum, and he transferred Lee to the Skyforce (Minnesota's D-League team) on at least two occasions throughout the season.

Since Rubio and Barea's injuries, Lee has been more heavily relied on as a role player on the team. Since March 10, Lee has put up averages of 2.6 PPG and 1.1 APG over 10 minutes of play—not exactly numbers to drop a jaw at.

However, the last two games have proved a bit more productive for Lee, who played 18 and 19 minutes and tallied six and four points, respectively.

Does Lee hold the potential to stabilize and run an NBA team offense? Honestly, I'm not sure. I don't think Adelman's sure, either.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, though, and the Wolves may choose to foster Lee a bit. With a bit of mentoring from veteran players and more minutes on the floor, Lee may just surprise you.

Option No. 3: Bring in an Available PG for Remainder of Season

This one's a far cry, but not 100 percent infeasible. With a few weeks left in the season, the Timberwolves may entertain the option of bringing in another PG to stabilize things.

A veteran player would be the best bet, and that veteran may even need to be a little desperate.

Enter Allen Iverson.

At 36 years old, Iverson's had his share of attitude problems, management problems and overall disasters. However, there's no denying his skills, and he's supposedly ready to do anything—and join anyone—to make a comeback.

"I'll play for anybody," Iverson told Yahoo! Sports in October.

While it appeared for awhile that Iverson might consider signing a one-month contract to play in the Dominican Republic, my gut tells me an NBA deal would definitely take precedent.

Option No. 4: Alter Current Lineup, Put Wayne Ellington at PG

Wayne Ellington isn't necessarily a lifesaver, but the third-year guard shows streaks of potential and has been known to step up and bring that surge of energy to the floor.

The problem with Ellington is just that—he's streaky on offense. He's been known to score 15 points one night and four the next.

That being said, however, Ellington also carries more experience and more awareness on the court than Malcolm Lee, and he plays smart basketball. He contributes to the defensive rebound column nightly, and he rarely turns the ball over.

Is it the best-case scenario at PG? Certainly not. But if Barea doesn't stay healthy and David Kahn sticks with the current roster, Ellington could work out at point guard.

Derrick Williams is another question mark, considering he's the "player without a position." Although his size tends to place him in the power forward position, it just doesn't make sense to move Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic around (as long as Pek is healthy).

I can guess most fans are thinking this: Wes Johnson should come off the bench. It's hard to dislike the guy—he could have come straight from a 70s sitcom—but he doesn't do the starting position justice. Martell Webster, on the other hand, has been coming up with a few big nights and plays a more physical game than Johnson.

In my opinion, with the current available roster, Webster deserves to start over Johnson, and he can play a larger shooting guard role from time to time.

Here is the lineup I propose. It's a bit experimental, but I'd be interested in seeing it take shape:

C: Nikola Pekovic

PF: Kevin Love

SF: Derrick Williams

SG: Martell Webster

PG: Wayne Ellington