All Things 2019-2020 Minnesota Timberwolves In-Season Thread

[BleedGopher]

RandBall: Was defense the culprit for Karl-Anthony Towns, other All-Star 'snubs'?

Karl-Anthony Towns, coming off of two consecutive All-Star appearances, is averaging a career-best 26.9 points per game this season. His 4.2 assists per game are a career-high, as are efficiency numbers such as effective field goal percentage (.604, thanks in large part to 41.2% three-point shooting on an easily career-high 8.2 attempts per game).

He’s become a nearly fully realized best version of his offensive self in the Wolves’ new offensive system.

So naturally, when Western Conference All-Star reserves were announced Thursday, Towns … didn’t make the cut.

What gives?

Well, probably a few factors. But here’s one theory: Reserves are picked by coaches, and those coaches are increasingly paying attention to a player’s contributions on both ends of the court.

Towns, Devin Booker, Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal are the only players averaging 25 points or more per game who weren’t selected as All-Stars and showed up prominently on a lot of lists, long and short, of all-star snubs.

It’s more nuanced than just saying “defense cost them,” since all four also play for teams not currently occupying a top-8 playoff spot in their respective conferences.

And Towns in particular was certainly impacted by missing 17 of the Wolves’ 47 games so far this season.

But it’s still fair to wonder how much of a role defensive acumen, or a lack thereof, cost them.

Was defense the culprit for Karl-Anthony Towns, other All-Star 'snubs'?

Towns is last in the NBA at his position in one key defensive metric, as is the Wizards' Bradley Beal.

www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[jamiche]

A buyer that would keep it here? Now there's a ridiculous fantasy.

Do you want to lose an NBA franchise?

 

[BleedGopher]

Sid: Timberwolves hurt on the court, in the stands

The Wolves’ 133-129 overtime loss to the Kings on Monday at Target Center, where they led by 17 points with just under three minutes left, is only the latest difficult moment in a season that started with a lot of promise after a 10-8 start. The Wolves are 5-24 since.

What makes the downward spiral even more confusing is that last year — in the midst of all the turmoil with trading Jimmy Butler, dismissing Tom Thibodeau and hiring Saunders as interim head coach, the team went 25-16 at home.

This year the club is only 6-18 at home, tied with Cleveland for the worst home mark in the NBA, and attendance has dropped to 14,569 per game, the lowest in the league. Last season the Wolves averaged 15,305 per game and in 2017-2018 they had averaged 17,056.

Timberwolves hurt on the court, in the stands

After beginning the season with some promise, the team has been on a 5-24 slide.

www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[BleedGopher]

per Sid:

Salary status

Still, this club has a lot of things to figure out if they’re going to compete.

The good news is that Wiggins has shown a lot of improvement this season.

His 22.9 points per game are good for 17th best in the league and is the second-highest mark of his career. His 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.9 blocks per game are all career highs. And he has improved his field-goal percentage (41.2 to 44.8) and free-throw percentage (69.9 to 72.1) from last season.

Towns, averaging 26.9 points and 10.7 rebounds, continues to be one of the best offensive players in the NBA. Only he and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, who could win his second consecutive MVP award, are averaging at least 26 points and 10 rebounds.


Wiggins and Towns will make a combined $59 million next season and the team already has $105 million in salary committed to 10 players in 2020-2021.

This year the salary cap was $109 million.

That means the Wolves are going to need to find a way to add to this roster, or Towns and Wiggins are going to have to take over the team if they’re going to have any shot of turning this franchise around.

Timberwolves hurt on the court, in the stands

After beginning the season with some promise, the team has been on a 5-24 slide.

www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[Iceland12]

Do you want to lose an NBA franchise?

You want Taylor to sell the team. Then it moves. You okay with that?

What difference does what we want make? Hard to believe that Taylor's heirs will want to keep running it after he dies. Particularly with the size of the crowds down there and that lousy media deal. Do you think that somebody would pay a billion dollars and keep it here? The answer seems to be no. Taylor couldn't even get a 1/3 of that from anybody who would agree to keep it here last time he tried to sell it.

Got some buyers who have the money and are willing to keep it here? Taylor would probably welcome the names. Maybe that minority owner from back East. The Chinese buyer sold out didn't he?

That's probably the biggest irony of all. Taylor has done a lousy job as an owner, but it's his determination to keep the team here is what has kept it here. Yet people scream "Just sell the team Glen!"

Anybody who thinks that if he sells the team it will stay here is being, how did you put it? Oh yeah. Ridiculous.

 

[Iceland12]

There was no need for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to do it all Saturday against Minnesota, as they had been required during a short-handed December victory against the same Timberwolves.

This time, the Clippers’ stars had backup.

Playing with a healthy roster for only the second time this season, and first since Christmas, the Clippers wore down the Timberwolves in the second half of a 118-106 victory at Staples Center.

The Clippers all but ensured an 11th consecutive defeat for the Timberwolves by holding Minnesota (15-33) scoreless for the first three-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter. In that time, the Clippers’ lead grew from 12 to end the third quarter to 19.

The last time these teams met George had 46 points and Leonard 42 to become first teammates in team history to score 40 or more in the same game. Leonard appeared on pace to match that total Saturday after scoring 24 before halftime but finished with 31 in 24 minutes. It was his ninth consecutive game with at least 30 points — the second-longest such streak in Clippers history, behind only World B. Free’s run of 11 in 1980 — and the start of a memorable day for the forward, whose jersey was set to be retired by San Diego State hours later...

Clippers try their best 'to get back to being normal' with win over Timberwolves

Attempting to move forward following Kobe Bryant's death, a finally healthy Clippers team rolls to a 118-106 victory over the Timberwolves.

www.latimes.com

 

[BleedGopher]

Towns on missing All-Star team: 'I'm desensitized to being disrespected'

When the NBA announced its All-Star starters and reserves over the last week, center Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t on the list.

Towns had earned that distinction twice over the last two seasons and broke down last season when he found out he had made the team.

Towns spoke for the first time about not making the team after Saturday’s 118-106 loss to the Clippers.

“I’m worried about our team, about getting W's,” Towns said. “I’m desensitized to being disrespected in this league. I’ve been disrespected since I came in. It’s nothing new when I didn’t see my name up there. When you’re a person who’s been disrespected like me so much, it’s something you expect honestly. You’re kind of shocked when you do get it.”

Towns on missing All-Star team: 'I'm desensitized to being disrespected'

Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't helped by missing 17 games -- 15 because of injury and two because of a suspension -- as well as his subpar defensive metrics.

www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Timberwolves’ roster doesn’t fit their system. And that’s not going to change any time soon.

The Timberwolves’ season has found a certain rhythm: Drive, kick, clank.

Loss.

It all sounded so good this offseason, when Wolves president Gersson Rosas and coach Ryan Saunders discussed the new-age style of play. The Wolves were going to push the ball and take analytically-friendly shots: layups, free throws and 3-pointers. Two-points-per-shot charts were installed at the team’s practice facility — one on the wall, another literally on the court, with green plastered on outside of the arc, and red layered all around the mid-range.

It was quite a sight for the sore eyes possessed by local fans, who were tired of the team’s 20th-century shot selection.

Remove Andrew Wiggins’ long 2-point shot attempts, increase Karl-Anthony Towns’ 3-point volume and create more spacing for which the all-star center could work, and this offense would take off.

That was the thought, anyway.

The result has played out differently. Armed with few outside shooters and a roster that has proven largely unwilling to run, Minnesota has … struggled, to say the least. The Timberwolves are 5-24 since Dec. 1. They have two double-digit losing streaks during that time frame, and are 0-14 in the past 14 games in which Towns has played.

Few, if any, expected this to be a playoff team, but the Wolves also weren’t pegged to be one of the NBA’s worst. The roster isn’t that different than the team that won 36 games last season, despite not having Robert Covington play a single game after the new year. Minnesota currently on pace for 26 wins. Towns’ 15 missed games factor in, but the Wolves did manage to win five of those.

The other main difference appears to be the new systems. And those aren’t great fits with Minnesota’s current roster.

Timberwolves’ roster doesn’t fit their system. And that’s not going to change any time soon.

The Timberwolves’ season has found a certain rhythm: Drive, kick, clank. Loss. It all sounded so good this offseason, when Wolves president Gersson Rosas and coach Ryan Saunders discussed the new-a…

www.twincities.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[Iceland12]

The Athletic speculates that trade discussions are still going on with the Warriors. "With the deadline looming on Thursday, the Warriors and Timberwolves remain engaged in trade conversations centered around D’Angelo Russell, league sources told The Athletic".

ESPN also speculates about it:

There is also something of a dearth of sellers, though a few teams -- including the super-active Minnesota Timberwolves -- seem poised to fill that void. Four bad teams in the East -- Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Washington -- either are under pressure to show signs of life now, or believe they can compete for a playoff spot next season (or both). They won't sell just to sell. The remaining lottery teams in the East don't have much that appeals.

In the West, everyone save the Wolves and Golden State Warriors can talk themselves into the idea of competing for the No. 8 seed...

• The Wolves are still in hot pursuit of D'Angelo Russell, sources say. Two months ago, it looked as if any Russell discussion -- if the Warriors had interest in one -- would wait until the offseason, but Minnesota has not given up hope of acquiring him now, sources say.

Matching salaries could make for some interesting cap gymnastics. Russell earns $27 million this season. Minnesota has Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng on big contracts. Minnesota could in theory acquire draft picks and salary in a Covington deal, and sweeten the pot with those.

The Warriors are $3.8 million over the tax, and should at least try to get under. Kevon Looney's salary could come in handy in that regard. There's a ton of moving parts here"

Neither the SFGate, the two local newspapers or the Sacramento Bee, the team the Wolves play tonight mentions the rumors. Probably because they are rumors, though they could happen.

Here is the link to the ESPN article speculating about many possible trades. Take a look if you want. Maybe at least 1 of them will happen.

Lowe: NBA trade talk and what might happen before the deadline

Big decisions for contenders are looming as we approach the NBA trade deadline.

www.espn.com

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

The Athletic speculates that trade discussions are still going on with the Warriors. "With the deadline looming on Thursday, the Warriors and Timberwolves remain engaged in trade conversations centered around D’Angelo Russell, league sources told The Athletic".

ESPN also speculates about it:

There is also something of a dearth of sellers, though a few teams -- including the super-active Minnesota Timberwolves -- seem poised to fill that void. Four bad teams in the East -- Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Washington -- either are under pressure to show signs of life now, or believe they can compete for a playoff spot next season (or both). They won't sell just to sell. The remaining lottery teams in the East don't have much that appeals.

In the West, everyone save the Wolves and Golden State Warriors can talk themselves into the idea of competing for the No. 8 seed...

• The Wolves are still in hot pursuit of D'Angelo Russell, sources say. Two months ago, it looked as if any Russell discussion -- if the Warriors had interest in one -- would wait until the offseason, but Minnesota has not given up hope of acquiring him now, sources say.

Matching salaries could make for some interesting cap gymnastics. Russell earns $27 million this season. Minnesota has Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng on big contracts. Minnesota could in theory acquire draft picks and salary in a Covington deal, and sweeten the pot with those.

The Warriors are $3.8 million over the tax, and should at least try to get under. Kevon Looney's salary could come in handy in that regard. There's a ton of moving parts here"

Neither the SFGate, the two local newspapers or the Sacramento Bee, the team the Wolves play tonight mentions the rumors. Probably because they are rumors, though they could happen.

Here is the link to the ESPN article speculating about many possible trades. Take a look if you want. Maybe at least 1 of them will happen.

Lowe: NBA trade talk and what might happen before the deadline

Big decisions for contenders are looming as we approach the NBA trade deadline.

www.espn.com

I just saw this article and was going to post it also. Nice catch, Ice!

Still not thrilled with the prospect of adding Russell but it's early enough that I have some faith in the new regime/front office and their ability to assemble a roster with what they want. At this point, adding Russell may be important for the sole reason of keeping fans watching the rest of the way. At this point, my interest in watching this team has eroded to next-to-nothing status unfortunately.

Even a minor move to show some direction moving forward would be nice to see, but maybe there's not a good move to be made. I guess we'll find out soon enough. I wasn't aware the deadline was coming up so fast.

 

[Iceland12]

I just saw this article and was going to post it also. Nice catch, Ice!

Still not thrilled with the prospect of adding Russell but it's early enough that I have some faith in the new regime/front office and their ability to assemble a roster with what they want. At this point, adding Russell may be important for the sole reason of keeping fans watching the rest of the way. At this point, my interest in watching this team has eroded to next-to-nothing status unfortunately.

Even a minor move to show some direction moving forward would be nice to see, but maybe there's not a good move to be made. I guess we'll find out soon enough. I wasn't aware the deadline was coming up so fast.

Thanks. Not that thrilled myself, but they desperately need a PG. And as you say, it would be nice to see if for no other reason than to know the Front Office is at least trying.

Oh did you notice this line in the article? It was about a possible Andre Iguodala trade. Though it speaks to nearly all trade rumors: Let me repeat: That is pure speculation

 

[BleedGopher]

Howl Wolves!!

 

[tikited]

Howl Wolves!!

Two picks from Houston, for example, would be a terrible trade for the Wolves. They won't get two picks from any other team.

 

[jamiche]

You want Taylor to sell the team. Then it moves. You okay with that?

What difference does what we want make? Hard to believe that Taylor's heirs will want to keep running it after he dies. Particularly with the size of the crowds down there and that lousy media deal. Do you think that somebody would pay a billion dollars and keep it here? The answer seems to be no. Taylor couldn't even get a 1/3 of that from anybody who would agree to keep it here last time he tried to sell it.

Got some buyers who have the money and are willing to keep it here? Taylor would probably welcome the names. Maybe that minority owner from back East. The Chinese buyer sold out didn't he?

That's probably the biggest irony of all. Taylor has done a lousy job as an owner, but it's his determination to keep the team here is what has kept it here. Yet people scream "Just sell the team Glen!"

Anybody who thinks that if he sells the team it will stay here is being, how did you put it? Oh yeah. Ridiculous.

Yup. I want the team to stay. A bad NBA team is always better than no NBA team. Is Taylor the only person in this market with money? Is he the only person who will keep the team here? Being a wolves fan requires optimism and that's why I keep coming back. It's a crappy franchise, but it's a franchise that a dozen markets would kill to have. It's ridiculous to want them to leave.

Maybe you have plans to move to Seattle. I don't.

 

[Iceland12]

"You want Taylor to sell the team. Then it moves. You okay with that?"

Yup. I want the team to stay. A bad NBA team is always better than no NBA team. Is Taylor the only person in this market with money? Is he the only person who will keep the team here? Being a wolves fan requires optimism and that's why I keep coming back. It's a crappy franchise, but it's a franchise that a dozen markets would kill to have..

Odd response there.

You're right about the other cities. Asked you earlier. Who? Who will come-up with the nearly $1,000,000,000 or so to keep them here? Who? How about a couple of names?

Looking at that City Pages article about McHale, you think Taylor is gonna care about keeping the team here? That his heirs will give a "bleep" about keeping the Wolves in town? That the Target Center deal will force them too? A billion dollars will allow them to pay off that deal too.

You're version off being a Wolves fan is to close your eyes, click you heels and say "They WILL stay here! They WILL stay here! They suck, but they WILL stay here!"

Who? Who will do what Taylor and Company did when Harv and Mary were selling them to New Orleans? Who will be the White Knight that they couldn't find a couple of times already who will come-up with the big bucks to keep them here?

You don't have any names. All you're doing is trolling about what a great NBA fan you are.

It's pretty ridiculous.

 

[tikited]

Just checked in on the game tonight. Culver lazy pass stolen. Then Wiggins a minute later with a lazy pass stolen for a layup. Absolute worst wing play in the game.

 

[TruthSeeker]

"You want Taylor to sell the team. Then it moves. You okay with that?"



Odd response there.

You're right about the other cities. Asked you earlier. Who? Who will come-up with the nearly $1,000,000,000 or so to keep them here? Who? How about a couple of names?

Looking at that City Pages article about McHale, you think Taylor is gonna care about keeping the team here? That his heirs will give a "bleep" about keeping the Wolves in town? That the Target Center deal will force them too? A billion dollars will allow them to pay off that deal too.

You're version off being a Wolves fan is to close your eyes, click you heels and say "They WILL stay here! They WILL stay here! They suck, but they WILL stay here!"

Who? Who will do what Taylor and Company did when Harv and Mary were selling them to New Orleans? Who will be the White Knight that they couldn't find a couple of times already who will come-up with the big bucks to keep them here?

You don't have any names. All you're doing is trolling about what a great NBA fan you are.

It's pretty ridiculous.

The MacMillans are rich and plentiful. Stanley Hubbard has cash. The Carlsons have plenty.

Maybe Richard Schulze likes basketball.

 

[Iceland12]

The MacMillans are rich and plentiful. Stanley Hubbard has cash. The Carlsons have plenty.

Maybe Richard Schulze likes basketball.

If only someone had told Taylor about them before....

 

[BleedGopher]

Wolves have now lost 12 straight. We are 9.5 games out of the last playoff spot, and only 4 games up on Golden State who has the worst record in the NBA.

Howl Wolves!!

 

[Iceland12]

SACRAMENTO - The Wolves were hoping some improbable history repeated itself on Monday night in Sacramento.

For the second time this season, they came here hoping to snap an 11-game losing streak. It's intriguing to think of infinitesimal odds that had of happening: Two 11-game losing streak, ending in the same place, in the only two matchups the Wolves play there?

The Wolves wouldn't have been in this predicament had they closed out what seemed like a sure win against Sacramento a week ago at Target Center … a loss that loomed larger considering the Wolves extended their streak to 12 in a 113-109 loss at the Golden1 Center.

The Wolves cut a 21-point second half Kings lead to two in the fourth quarter, but as has been the case several times this season, the Wolves had ceded too much ground that they had to make up as the Kings shot 14 of 27 from three-point range. The Wolves had a chance to tie with 4.7 seconds remaining after forcing a five-second violation, but an Andrew Wiggins three rimmed out.

De'Aaron Fox scored 31 to lead the Kings while Karl-Anthony Towns led six Wolves in double figures with 22. Andrew Wiggins had only 10 on 3 of 11 shooting.

The trade deadline is approaching Thursday with rumors swirling nationally around the Wolves — and their most discussed potential trade partner, the Warriors, had two representatives in attendance Monday. The Wolves looked like a team whose minds were elsewhere from the jump.

They fell behind quickly 18-4 and had trouble generating offense outside of Karl-Anthony Towns. Robert Covington, the subject of a lot of the trade speculation, was just 1 of 5, while Shabazz Napier and Jarrett Culver were a combined 0-for-8. Towns had 9 of the Wolves' 20 points in the quarter.

The Wolves would chip away at Sacramento's lead, which grew to as much as 15, and they trailed by nine, 29-20 entering the second. Except that only got worse.

Napier got going from the floor, but the Wolves couldn't much defend the Kings, who scored 36 in the quarter. Halfway through the quarter the Kings went on a 12-4 run with Harrison Barnes hitting a three, Buddy Hield adding one off a Jarrett Culver turnover. That made the score 56-38.

The Kings would get their biggest lead of the half after Fox intercepted a lazy Andrew Wiggins pass and took it the other way for a layup to go up 20. The Wolves slumped into the locker room down 65-50 while they allowed Sacramentio to shoot 54%, 50% from three-point range. Fox had 17 and Hield 14 at the break..

Timberwolves' losing streak grows to 12 in 113-109 loss to Kings

The Wolves trailed by as many as 21 points before rallying late in the game as trade rumors continued to swirl around the team.

www.startribune.com

 

[BarnBurner]

Do you want to lose an NBA franchise?

Yes, please. Utterly worthless game.

 

[BleedGopher]

per Axios Sports:

Potential three-way swap: A three-team deal that would send Robert Covington to Houston, Clint Capela to Atlanta and Brooklyn's 2020 first-round pick from Atlanta to Minnesota has been discussed, per The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor.

Go Gophers!!

 

[tikited]

Yes, please. Utterly worthless game.

Greatest sport ever invented....Yep, basketball.

 

[tikited]

per Axios Sports:

Potential three-way swap: A three-team deal that would send Robert Covington to Houston, Clint Capela to Atlanta and Brooklyn's 2020 first-round pick from Atlanta to Minnesota has been discussed, per The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor.

Go Gophers!!

I can't imagine this happening without heavy protection with the pick (Atlanta has the 2nd worst record in the league right now). Terrible draft with protection = no thanks.

 

[Iceland12]

This sounds better. Though since it's out there publicly, maybe/probably not going to happen.

Adrian Wojnarowski

@wojespn

ESPN Sources: Minnesota orchestrating three-team trade talks with Houston and Atlanta -- with hopes of ultimately turning discussions into a four-way deal that brings Golden State G D'Angelo Russell to Timberwolves.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

This sounds better. Though since it's out there publicly, maybe/probably not going to happen.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn

ESPN Sources: Minnesota orchestrating three-team trade talks with Houston and Atlanta -- with hopes of ultimately turning discussions into a four-way deal that brings Golden State G D'Angelo Russell to Timberwolves.

DLO is trash. No thanks

 

[howeda7]

"You want Taylor to sell the team. Then it moves. You okay with that?"



Odd response there.

You're right about the other cities. Asked you earlier. Who? Who will come-up with the nearly $1,000,000,000 or so to keep them here? Who? How about a couple of names?

Looking at that City Pages article about McHale, you think Taylor is gonna care about keeping the team here? That his heirs will give a "bleep" about keeping the Wolves in town? That the Target Center deal will force them too? A billion dollars will allow them to pay off that deal too.

You're version off being a Wolves fan is to close your eyes, click you heels and say "They WILL stay here! They WILL stay here! They suck, but they WILL stay here!"

Who? Who will do what Taylor and Company did when Harv and Mary were selling them to New Orleans? Who will be the White Knight that they couldn't find a couple of times already who will come-up with the big bucks to keep them here?

You don't have any names. All you're doing is trolling about what a great NBA fan you are.

It's pretty ridiculous.

Obviously the Wolves have been a mess for too long. But I don't think the NBA is that eager to pull out of the #15 market in the country to go to a city where it already failed. And yes, I would imagine the Target Center lease has some steep penalties in it. There's also MN Supreme Court president for "specific performance" of the lease from the when the Twins tried to contract. I don't think it's a slam dunk they can just leave, even if they want to and the NBA OK's it. The city just spent millions on Target Center. They will not let that happen without a long legal fight.

 

[BarnBurner]

Greatest sport ever invented....Yep, basketball.

Greatest sport ever invented - college bb.

NBA - Never Been Anything

 

[tikited]

Greatest sport ever invented - college bb.

NBA - Never Been Anything

If you say so.

 

[tikited]

This sounds better. Though since it's out there publicly, maybe/probably not going to happen.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn

ESPN Sources: Minnesota orchestrating three-team trade talks with Houston and Atlanta -- with hopes of ultimately turning discussions into a four-way deal that brings Golden State G D'Angelo Russell to Timberwolves.

I'm almost to the point where I don't care what they do. I will assume it will backfire no matter what.