2008-2009 Preview for the Minnesota Timberwolves

22 wins, 60 losses—I honestly wasn't surprised with how the Minnesota Timberwolves finished last season.

Trading Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics was expected to make the T'Wolves one of the laughing stocks of the league. With the trade, Minnesota brought in Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, and Sebastian Telfair.

Gerald Green was traded shortly after the All-Star break because apparently blowing out candles at an all-star dunk contest wasn't impressive enough for him to remain on the team. In the process, Minnesota received Kirk Snyder who started in 18 of his 27 games with the Wolves.

Theo Ratliff was released mid-season as well, and later picked up by the Detroit Pistons. Ratliff was injured throughout the 2007-2008 season.

For the players who remained on the team, they were apart of Minnesota's centerpiece. Al Jefferson was the star of the team, he finished the season with an average of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Ryan Gomes started in 74 games and appeared in all 82—he averaged 12 and a half points. Sebastian Telfair started 51 games at Point Guard with averages of 9.3 points and nearly 6 assists.

Minnesota's team stats:

Game Statistics					Rebounds			Miscellaneous
NAME	GP	GS	MIN	PTS	OFF	DEF	TOT	AST	STL	BLK	TO	A/TO	PF	TECH
Al Jefferson	82	82	35.6	21.0	3.8	7.4	11.1	1.4	0.90	1.45	2.0	0.70	2.7	0.0
Rashad McCants	75	24	27.0	14.9	0.7	2.1	2.7	2.2	0.88	0.24	2.3	0.94	3.1	0.0
Randy Foye	39	31	32.3	13.1	0.3	2.9	3.3	4.2	0.92	0.08	2.0	2.08	2.6	0.0
Ryan Gomes	82	74	29.7	12.6	1.6	4.2	5.8	1.8	0.79	0.12	1.2	1.51	1.9	0.0
Craig Smith	77	11	20.1	9.4	1.6	3.0	4.6	0.8	0.47	0.22	1.2	0.67	2.8	0.0
Sebastian Telfair	60	51	32.2	9.3	0.3	2.0	2.3	5.9	0.98	0.18	1.9	3.20	2.9	0.1
Kirk Snyder†	27	18	25.2	8.4	0.9	3.3	4.2	2.1	0.70	0.52	1.8	1.17	1.8	0.1
Marko Jaric	75	56	29.2	8.3	0.5	2.5	3.0	4.1	1.29	0.43	1.7	2.43	2.4	0.0
Antoine Walker	46	1	19.4	8.0	1.2	2.4	3.7	1.0	0.72	0.17	1.0	0.98	1.7	0.0
Theo Ratliff†	10	6	21.3	6.3	1.3	2.6	3.9	0.7	0.30	1.90	1.2	0.58	3.0	0.0
Corey Brewer	79	35	22.8	5.8	1.0	2.7	3.7	1.4	0.96	0.32	1.1	1.25	2.4	0.0
Gerald Green†	29	0	12.2	5.1	0.4	1.8	2.1	1.0	0.28	0.14	1.1	0.91	1.5	0.0
Greg Buckner	31	4	16.7	4.0	0.3	1.8	2.1	1.3	0.68	0.06	0.9	1.34	2.0	0.0
Michael Doleac	24	8	10.7	2.4	0.7	1.4	2.0	0.3	0.42	0.42	0.5	0.58	1.8	0.0
Chris Richard	52	3	10.7	1.9	1.0	1.6	2.6	0.3	0.19	0.23	0.5	0.75	1.6	0.0
Mark Madsen	20	6	7.5	0.5	0.9	1.0	1.9	0.2	0.15	0.10	0.5	0.44	1.3	0.0
Totals	82	---	---	95.6	11.8	29.6	41.4	19.9	7.51	3.73	13.9	1.43	23.0	0.2
Opponents	82	---	---	102.4	10.6	31.0	41.7	23.2	7.44	5.71	13.0	1.78	17.5	0.2

Rashad McCants had the role of pull-up shooter and floor general. Second year Guard Randy Foye was injured for the majority of his season. Corey Brewer was very disappointing in his rookie campaign, failing to even average six points. The reason I mentioned these three is because they are the young guards who will see plenty of time this coming season.

2008 Draft

Round 1, Pick 3 O.J. Mayo, SG, USC

Mayo was expected to be the Timberwolves top pick and he was. Hours later, the USC star was abruptly traded with Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner, and Antoine Walker to the Memphis Grizzles for Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins.

Round 2 Nikola Pekovic, C, Serbia

One of the top international prospects in the whole entire draft. Too bad he signed a huge contract in Greece and won't likely be in the NBA anytime soon.

Round 2 Mario Chalmers, PG, Kansas

The steal of the draft in my opinion. Of course, the Timberwolves trade him to Miami. He could have been the future Point Guard for Minnesota is McCants went else where.

2008 Losses

Theo Ratliff—Pistons, Gerald Green—Houston Rockets, Marko Jaric—Memphis Grizzlies, Antoine Walker—Memphis Grizzlies, Gerald Buckner—Grizzlies. Kirk Snyder

2008 Signings

Mike Miller—Grizzlies, Jason Collins—Grizzlies, Brian Cardinal—Grizzlies, Rodney Carney—76'ers, Calvin Booth—76'ers.

2008-2009 Projected Starting Line-up

PG: Rashad McCants
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Mike Miller
PF: Al Jefferson
C: Kevin Love

Bench
F: Ryan Gomes
G: Sebastian Telfair
F: Corey Brewer
C: Jason Collins
C: Mark Madsen
F: Craig Smith
F: Rodney Carney
F: Brian Cardinal
C: Calvin Booth
F: Chris Richard

2008-2009 Projected Record: 34 wins, 48 losses (4th place)

I believe if Al Jefferson provides double digit numbers again, he will be an All-Star. Mike Miller provides a smooth jump shot and three-point range. McCants can be the floor general once again, Randy Foye will be the secret weapon, Kevin Love provides strength and inside game.