Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 Bold Predictions for T-Wolves' Shortened Season

To be perfectly honest, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been the butt of every NBA joke over the past few seasons, whether it's point guard blunders in the draft, unexplainable offseason signings or the inevitable forfeit of their first round pick in this impressive 2012 draft class. 

Tack on a combined 32 wins the past two seasons, and it's easy to realize why most T-Wolves fans believe in Santa more than their team. There is great pressure in Minnesota for the team to show significant signs of improvement this season. 

Although owner Glen Taylor and General Manager David Kahn have been unable to put an improved team on the court from year to year, this season could be different...well, interesting, at least.

Thanks to the lockout, the Wolves' busy offseason has flown under the radar for most of the summer and fall.  With significant roster changes, new young talent added, and new coach, there is some real intrigue (dare I say optimism) with this new and improved roster. 

With two highly-touted rookies in Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams on board this season, a returning All- Star in Kevin Love and a coach with 945 wins on his resume in Rick Adelman, the league may be in for some shocking outcomes out of Minnesota this season. 

Here are five bold predictions for the 2011-2012 Wolves season that will get Minnesota fans back in the Christmas Spirit. 

Michael Beasley Traded

Not the boldest prediction to start with, because it has to be the one most likely to actually occur.  It's a shame to give up on Beasley already after his impressive season last year for the Wolves, averaging a career best 19.2 points per game and 6.8 boards. 

Bringing Beasley over from Miami in an exchange for two future second-round draft picks will prove to be one of Kahn's smarter moves.  The return of Beasley for Minnesota will sure be higher than what was given up for him. The Wolves would most likely try to acquire some cap relief for next season in exchange for Beasley, who is owed $14.4 million between this season and next. 

The Wolves will most likely be looking to extend Kevin Love to a max offer as well as recently acquired Anthony Randolph to deals next offseason.  But his fate was set when the Wolves drafted Derrick Williams in this past draft. 

Beasley most likely will start at small forward over rookie Williams in the beginning of the season, only to be showcased for teams in dire need of offense and willing to take on the baggage that goes along with him. 

The promotion for Derrick Williams, with increased minutes and more of a burden for the rookie to score, leads me to...

2011-2012 Rookie of the Year: Derrick Williams

Williams was arguably the most talented player in the draft. Although former Duke point guard Kyrie Irving will prove to be a talent in his own respect, the Cavaliers may be the ones kicking themselves at the end of the season for passing on the Arizona standout.

At 6'8" 240, there's not much Williams can't do. Last season for the Wildcats, he finished the season averaging 19.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg while shooting 59.5% from the field and 56.8% from beyond the arc.

If and when Beasley goes on the move, the team will heavily rely on Williams to pick up his scoring, giving him plenty of opportunities to succeed against a weak class of rookies to begin with. 

Ricky Rubio Lives Up to the Hype

What is the hype? Well, that's up for interpretation. 

When I think about Rubio, the first thing that comes to mind is, "He better be worth it..." as most Wolves fans think.  We've had to wait TWO seasons of misery waiting for someone to help turn the team around.  So the "hype" is really his ability to create some wins for the team this year. 

Because of his rare skill set, it's difficult to predict exactly how much of an effect Rubio will have in the wins column.  In addition, there's not many players in the league with his skill set, which makes him even more difficult to predict.

What we do know about Rubio is that he's extremely quick with the ball in his hands, a flashy pass-first point guard, and isn't intimated by NBA competition (see 2008 Olympics).

But he isn't anything that resembles a scorer. He'll most likely be a liability on defense, and will have to take his lumps adjusting to the NBA in his first season (much like his former teammates Juan Carlos Navarro and Jose Calderon did when they left Spain).

In the end though, Rubio will be given plenty of opportunities to succeed. 

Rick Adelman has a knack for turning young point guards into productive players over his career; Terry Porter (Blazers), Jason Williams, (Kings) and, most recently, Kyle Lowry (Rockets).  

At best, I predict Ricky at 28 minutes per game, averaging  8.5 points, 8.2 assists, and 1.4 steals by the end of the season.

Kevin Love Makes His 2nd Consecutive All Star Appearance

Before I go into why Love will make the All-Star team, let's consider the more probable selections first.

We can pencil in Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitski, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Pau Gasol (or Dwight Howard if traded to L.A.) as guys primed to have big years, while Steve Nash and Tim Duncan will get most likely get voted in for the elder statesman/lifetime achievement award since these could be their last years.

That leaves three open spots.

The competition will most likely come from LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph and Eric Gordon (now a Hornet). While Randolph has never been much of a consistent stat stuffer year by year, and with a full season of Rudy Gay, I'll make the assumption that his numbers will take a slight hit for the 11th year forward. 

Gordon will have plenty of opportunities to shine now, being the face of the Hornets, but his inability to stay healthy for a full season could continue to curse the fourth-year guard.  Aldridge and Love are comparable until you get to rebounding, where Love dominates the taller/longer Aldridge by 6.4 rebs. 

Taking Love's league leading 15.2 boards per game last season, and tacking on his 20.2 points per game in only his third season, he should be a clear cut coaches selection for his second (of many) All-Star appearances. 

The Timberwolves Sneak into the Playoffs

Before you start laughing, consider this: From last year's playoffs, three of the eight teams have lost significant personnel from their rosters. 

The Hornets let David West go in free agency and moved Chris Paul.  The Blazers unfortunately lost Brandon Roy to retirement and will have an aging Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas at center.  And the Nuggets find 25 percent of their roster (JR Smith, Wilson Chandler, and Keyon Martin) from last season playing in China this year. 

With three spots up for grab, we can pencil in the new and improved L.A. Clippers.  But after them, it gets very interesting. 

Yes, the Nuggets did resign Nene and could compete, but they will be dealing with a lot of new pieces and not enough offense.  The Blazers did add Raymond Felton, but outside of Aldridge, the team has no real threat on offense.  The Hornets are in rebuilding mode with the Suns next in line to follow. 

So some team is bound to sneak in this year. 

Where does Minnesota have an advantage? The answer is the shortned season. 

Its important to take note of the challenges from this 66-game condensed season that teams will have to endure.  In a season where there will teams playing three games in three nights, teams will deeper rosters and younger legs will have a distinct advantage. 

Luckily for Minnesota, they'll have both.