Minnesota Timberwolves: Five Things They Should Do This Offseason
The Minnesota Timberwolves' season thus far has been a great big uh-oh, and as everyone expected they rank among the league's worst teams.
The question I will try to answer is this one: what can the team do this offseason to begin their road to relevancy once more?
I will take a look at five decisions this ballclub can make, and whether they'll be good for the team, or if they will continue to be a laughingstock of the league. In all honesty, I can see the Wolves cut the laughingstock joke within the next few seasons, and it all starts right here.
Without further ado, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!
5. Keep Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, and Anthony Randolph
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The Timberwolves have made quite the statement regarding their future, and have made three big decisions that will alter the upcoming future of the franchise.
First off, they dealt for Michael Beasley, a player who couldn't seemed to find a true niche playing alongside Dwyane Wade in South Beach. David Kahn practically stole the B-Easy away from the Heat, and he looks to become a mainstay in the Land of 10,000 Lakes as his play has dramatically improved this season. Think about how dynamic of a player he would become if he developed defensively.
Secondly, management was given quite the complication in the summer of 2010. They had two great power forwards in Al Jefferson and Kevin Love and needed to decide which one to build around. Ultimately they went with youth and less experience, but so far it has paid off as Love is having an MVP-like campaign for the otherwise dismal season.
Finally, the Pups were destined to make a move for the versatile Anthony Randolph this February as the trade deadline approached. Eventually, the team gave up Corey Brewer, the best lockdown defender the team had since Trenton Hassell years ago. In return they got the ever so athletic Randolph, a guy who can play three positions.
These three moves will ultimately define the next piece of their history, and I expect each one to be around here for quite awhile. At 22 years old apiece, it makes sense of behalf of management.
4. Acquire a Solid Shooting Guard Like Monta Ellis or O.J. Mayo
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Okay, so this has been said before. Heck, I wrote an article discussing how to get a guy like O.J. Mayo.
The Indiana Pacers proved at the trade deadline that it wasn't especially tricky, offering power forward Josh McRoberts and a first-round pick to get the USC product.
So why not send two of our future first-rounders to get a guy like Mayo.
Monta Ellis, on the other hand, is a tad more difficult to acquire. It might take two first-rounders and the solid Wes Johnson to get Golden State to ultimately pull the trigger.
Whatever it is, the Wolves have the trade bait, money, and picks to make a deal like this happen, and I fully expect one this summer.
3. Acquire a Great Post Defender
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have given up the most points thus far in the NBA, and time and time again I am sick of seeing opposing post players roll over guys like Kevin Love, Anthony Tolliver, and Nikola Pekovic.
Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks, who will be a free agent come this summer, would be an absolutely perfect pickup. He provides defense as well as athleticism.
His biggest upside on Minnesota might be that he wouldn't have to do as much scoring as he did in Dallas, because the Wolves have Love and Michael Beasley to do that.
As of right now, the T'Wolves have one defensive weapon in the frontcourt, Darko Milicic, but his biggest problem lies within the fact that he gets into foul trouble extremely early on in games, and Chandler himself doesn't foul too often.
2. Get Rid of a Few Role Players
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In all honesty, I see no need for guys like Sebastian Telfair, Jonny Flynn, Anthony Tolliver, or Nikola Pekovic on this roster right now.
So why not bring in a few fresh role players like free agents Reggie Evans from Toronto, Eddie House from the Heat, and James Posey from the Pacers. All three of these players, while not exactly top ballers in the league, would each fill a void in three of the T'Wolves' biggest needs.
Evans would improve defensively and display depth in the frontcourt; House would bring some much needed energy and support off the bench at the point guard position; Posey would help create a spark of speed and electricity even though his best years are behind him.
1. Get Ricky Rubio to Climb Aboard
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I don't know about you, T'Wolves fans, but I think it's about time that Ricky Rubio falls off his high horse and takes his talents to Minnesota.
The Spaniard needs to realize what is important in life, and at 21 he is slowly but surely losing his stock in the NBA.
If and only if the previous deals go down, the starting lineup would then consist of Rubio, Monta Ellis, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, and Tyson Chandler. The starting five here doesn't necessarily bellow "NBA Champions!!" but at least it whispers "eighth seed in the West?"
However, if Rubio acts like himself and bawls about Los Angeles and Boston and how he deserves it, we might as well trade him while his stock is still high.
About the Author
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Joseph Fafinski is a 19-year-old, originally from Chaska, Minn.
He is currently a freshman at the University of Missouri pursuing a career in journalism.
He is a huge fan of basketball, football, baseball and golf, and is a Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also loves the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Twins.
You can follow Joseph on Twitter at @JosephFafinski.
Here is more from Joseph Fafinski:
- Which current NBA players are locks for the Hall of Fame?: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/636055-nba-hall-of-fame-which-active-players-will-find-their-way-to-springfield#page/19
- Reasons losing Kevin Love would be devastating to the Timberwolves: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/628633-kevin-love-10-reasons-losing-him-would-be-devastating-to-minnesota-timberwolves
- Grading every Wolves' player on their season thus far: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/626373-grading-minnesota-a-look-at-every-player-on-the-timberwolves-roster-thus-far
