 NBA.com By: Jake Paynting Once former Chicago Bulls Coach of the Year and current Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau entered the Twin Cities, one thing has been ever so clear: Thibs loved the gritty guys he had in Chicago, and he wants them back. Jimmy Butler was the marquee name to arrive from the Windy City, followed by forward Taj Gibson, back-up point Aaron Brooks. The ultimate Bulls throwback came a few weeks after last season's all-star break when Thibs used his president of basketball operations power to lasso 2011's Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose into the fold. Now, just two names remain on the 60-year-old's list. The first is former All-Star Loul Deng. The 33-year-old featured in just a solitary game last season, despite being fully healthy. Even with the lack of gametime, he and the Lakers seem to have hit a stalemate in buyout or trade discussions. According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, an NBA executive even went as far as to say Deng is all but semi-retired and that he may never play again in the NBA unless he has a change of heart. That leaves one lonely name, 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah. Like Deng, the 33-year-old center was healthily warming the bench last season, featuring in just 40 minutes spread out over seven appearances. Unlike his former Chicago pal, the New York Knicks plan to let Noah move on. According to ESPN, Knicks general manager plans to stretch and waive the final two years of his enormous 4-year, $72 million contract, providing they can't find a trade partner. Since making his move from Chicago to the Big Apple, Noah's star-studded career has fallen off a cliff. With his huge contract providing a black cloud over a promising future in New York, the Knicks will undoubtedly look to move the big man as soon as possible. It's likely Thibodeau will just wait it out and sign his former defensive anchor on a league minimum deal, rather than trade for him and his huge contract. Nonetheless, all signs point to Noah making his way to the Mayo Clinic at some stage this year. However, with franchise centerpiece Karl-Anthony Towns, overpaid albeit rotation-worthy Gorgui Dieng and unseen sophomore big man Justin Patton all vying for minutes, Noah might be restricted to another bench role. That doesn't mean that he can't be a locker room and defensive leader for the aforementioned big men in the Timberwolves ranks. Reputations in the NBA change faster than your average set of traffic lights, so it's easy to forget a time where Joakim Noah was a star, but just four short years ago he was very that. The 6-foot-11 was an inefficient scorer with one of the goofiest looking jump shots you will ever see, but he was an elite passer for his size and his three All-Defensive nods attest to his game-changing ability on that end. The most important thing is that every bit of that success came under the tightened reigns of Tom Thibodeau, and his famous rendition of the 'ICE' defense. That's where the long-haired ball of energy can add value to this team, specifically Karl-Anthony Towns, who has seen his fair share of defensive criticism. Towns took steps toward being an impact defender in his third season, but he was often still out of sync with Thibodeau's lauded defensive schemes. He ranked in the 61st percentile when guarding the pick-and-roll ball handler, and in the 41st percentile when defending the rolling big man. Not ideal for a team with less than stellar defenders Jeff Teague and Andrew Wiggins already on the perimeter. Placing the affable Noah on the young star's hip behind the scenes could unlock another level to KAT's game. There is no way a guy with the experience the 11-year pro has as Thibs' last line of defense can't provide some sort mentoring and help for such a defensively-challenged team. The Wolves gave up 0.96 points per possession in pick-and-roll action last season, the 9th worst mark in the NBA. Any help is good help at this point. If somehow Noah does get minutes due to injury or unplayable form from by Dieng and/or Patton, he might still be able to squeeze the last drops out of his playing career. In the 40 minutes he spent on the floor for New York last season, he faced 11 possessions defending the pick-and-roll ball handler and gave up just six total points. It's a minuscule sample size, but it could have been a whole lot worse. When Noah spoke to the Star Tribune before a 2016 game against the Timberwolves and his former coach, he was quick to show Thibodeau love.
“It’s hard to win in this league. Sometimes, with Thibs, we’d butt heads. But you don’t’ realize what you have with him until he’s not around.’’ he said. With a return to butting heads with his former leader looking more and more possible by the day, Joakim Noah still has plenty of wisdom and leadership to offer to a Timberwolves franchise desperate for stability.
0 Comments
 By: Seth Toupal
To say that the landscape in the Western Conference has changed this offseason would definitely be an understatement. After being swept by the Warriors in the NBA Finals, LeBron decided to take his talents to Los Angeles and he wasn’t the only big shocker in a frantic offseason. Not only did teams that missed the playoffs get better, but several teams that made the playoffs retained their core. Chris Paul, Paul George and Nikola Jokic were just some of the big names who decided to stay put for a chance to dethrone the champs. The Timberwolves most notable moves included their two draft picks Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop as well free agent signings Anthony Tolliver and James Nunnaly. The Wolves also re-signed Derrick Rose to add to their bench depth. The starting lineup is intact and the bench looks much deeper and more versatile. Will that be enough to keep the Timberwolves afloat in the West? Let's take a look at how the Wolves stack up against the rest of the teams in the Western Conference. We will look at free agent additions, draft picks, and how the Wolves fared in head to head matchups against each team. Buckle up: Western Conference Power Rankings The Favorite 1. Golden State Warriors (58-24 last year, NBA Champions) Adds: • DeMarcus Cousins (free agency) • Jonas Jerebko (free agency) • Damion Lee (free agency) Draft: • Jacob Evans (No. 28 pick) Losses: • JaVale McGee (signed with Lakers) • Zaza Pachulia (signed with Pistons) Current Free Agents: • Patrick McCaw -- RFA • David West – UFA • Nick Young – UFA Under Contract: • Jordan Bell • Chris Boucher** • Quinn Cook • Stephen Curry • Kevin Durant (re-signed) • Draymond Green • Andre Iguodala • Damian Jones • Shaun Livingston • Kevon Looney (re-signed) • Klay Thompson Why they are number 1: With injuries and adversity throughout the year that looked like they might finally crack the armor, the Warriors looked like a team who finally hit the wall. But everyone got healthy for the playoffs and they collected another Larry O’Brien trophy. Add to the fold a very motivated DeMarcus Cousins and the Warriors are still on top where they still belong. The biggest question mark for Golden State has always been their bench. But with a starting lineup as good as they have, does it really matter? How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Warriors 125, Timberwolves 101 Game 2: Warriors 126, Timberwolves 113 Game 3: Timberwolves 109, Warriors 103 Last year the Warriors won the season series 2-1. In the lone game the Wolves won (109-106 at Target Center on March 11th) Steph Curry didn’t play (then again neither did Jimmy Butler). In the other 2 games the Warriors showed why they are still way ahead of the Wolves. The Wolves simply don’t shoot enough 3’s to keep up. Then again, few teams do. The key in this series is for the Wolves is to win their battles one on one and for someone to have a monster game. The Biggest Challenger 2. Houston Rockets (65-17 last year, lost to Golden State in the Western Conference Finals) Adds: • Michael Carter-Williams (free agent) • James Ennis III (free agent) • Carmelo Anthony (Verbal Commitment to sign) Draft: • De'Anthony Melton (No. 46 pick) • Vincent Edwards (No. 52 pick) Losses: • Trevor Ariza (signed with Suns) • Luc Mbah a Moute (signed with Clippers) • Chinanu Onuaku (traded to Mavericks) Current Free Agents: • Tarik Black -- UFA • Markel Brown -- RFA • Joe Johnson – UFA Under Contract: • Ryan Anderson • Clint Capela (re-signed) • Eric Gordon • Gerald Green (re-signed) • James Harden • R.J. Hunter** • Aaron Jackson (opt in) • Nene • Chris Paul (re-signed) • Zhou Qi • P.J. Tucker Why they are number 2: Even though the Rockets blew everyone away in the regular season, they still couldn’t survive another Western Conference Finals matchup with Golden State. To put it simply, Chris Paul’s injury and an atrocious 27 consecutive 3 pointers missed in Game 7 are going to haunt the Rockets until next year’s playoffs. The trio of Clint Capela, Chris Paul and James Harden put up an incredible record when they all were healthy (an absurd 42-3), but Houston’s biggest challenge will be to stay healthy and to finally finish off the Warriors. Another interesting thing to watch is how Carmelo Anthony fits into the rotation. Will he truly accept a bench role? How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Rockets 116, Timberwolves 98 Game 2: Rockets 126, Timberwolves 108 Game 3: Rockets 120, Timberwolves 102 Game 4: Rockets 129, Timberwolves 120 Playoffs Game 1: Rockets 104, Timberwolves 101 Playoffs Game 2: Rockets 102, Timberwolves 82 Playoffs Game 3: Timberwolves 121, Rockets 105 Playoffs Game 4: Rockets 119, Timberwolves 100 Playoffs Game 5: Rockets 122, Timberwolves 104 Houston went 8-1 against the Timberwolves in both the regular season and postseason. The Rockets transition offense gave the Wolves fits at every turn. And just when it seemed like the Wolves might gain some playoff momentum the Rockets scored 50 points in the third quarter on the Wolves at Target Center in Game 4. This will still present a tough matchup for the Wolves, although their defense should be more up to the task this year. One key matchup in this series is Clint Calepa against Karl-Anthony Towns. Capela intimidated Towns in almost every game last year. Will Towns be able to return the favor this year? The Playoff Contenders 3. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34 last year, lost to Utah in the Western Conference Quarterfinals) Added: • Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (trade with Sixers) • Abdel Nader (trade with Celtics) • Nerlens Noel (free agency) • Dennis Schröder (trade with Hawks) Draft: • Hamidou Diallo (No. 45 pick) • Devon Hall (No. 53 pick) • Kevin Hervey (No. 57 pick) Lost: • Carmelo Anthony (traded to Hawks) • Nick Collison (retired) • Dakari Johnson (traded to Magic) • Rodney Purvis (traded to Celtics) Free Agents: • Corey Brewer – UFA • PJ Dozier – UFA • Daniel Hamilton – UFA • Josh Huestis – UFA Under Contract: • Alex Abrines • Steven Adams • Raymond Felton (re-signed) • Terrance Ferguson • Paul George (re-signed) • Jerami Grant (re-signed) • Patrick Patterson • Andre Roberson • Kyle Singler • Russell Westbrook Why they are number 3: Russ and co. were bested by the Jazz in the playoffs last year and immediately faced questions about the future of Paul George as Westbrook’s right hand man. Those questions were quickly answered when he resigned and the team subsequently added Dennis Schroeder and Nerlens Noel to the fold. The trade of Carmelo Anthony will help get more shots to better players. OKC is going to be a real threat this year. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 115, Thunder 113 Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Thunder 116 Game 3: Thunder 111, Timberwolves 107 Game 4: Timberwolves 104, Thunder 88 The Wolves won the season series 3-1 last year against the Thunder. One of those wins came on an Andrew Wiggins buzzer beater in OKC. The Wolves also won in a blowout at the Target Center. Never count out Russ though, and this Thunder team is way better. It should be a highly competitive series between these two again this coming season. The biggest question in this matchup is with the additions of Schroder and Noel, how will the Wolves match up yet still keep Westbrook quiet? 4. Utah Jazz (48-34 last year, lost to Houston in the Western Conference Semifinals) Added: • Jairus Lyles (free agency) • Naz Mitrou-Long (free agency) Draft: • Grayson Allen (No. 21 pick) Lost: • Jonas Jerebko (waived) Free Agents: • Erik McCree -- UFA Under Contract: • Tony Bradley • Alec Burks • Jae Crowder • Dante Exum (re-signed) • Derrick Favors (re-signed) • Rudy Gobert • Joe Ingles • Donovan Mitchell • Raul Neto (re-signed) • Georges Niang (re-signed) • Royce O'Neale • Ricky Rubio • Thabo Sefolosha • David Stockton • Ekpe Udoh Why they are number 4: Once the Jazz were up to full strength they were nearly unstoppable. Rudy Gobert cranked the Jazz defense to another level once he came back for good. The back court combo of Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio looks to blossom in year 2 as a tandem. Grayson Allen might have hit the perfect landing spot when the Jazz drafted him. His defense will fit in perfectly off the bench. The Jazz could make some very loud noise in the Western Conference this year. How the Wolves stack up: Game 1: Timberwolves 100, Jazz 97 Game 2: Timberwolves 109, Jazz 98 Game 3: Jazz 116, Timberwolves 108 Game 4: Jazz 121, Timberwolves 97 Both teams split the season series 2-2, each winning 1 game on the other team’s home court. The Wolves showed their most frustration of the season during the Jazz series, with both teams playing an incredibly physical style and leading to Karl-Anthony Towns getting ejected in Game 3. The key for the Wolves is to try to keep Rudy Gobert from taking over, and to keep the Jazz quiet from outside. Towns vs. Gobert is hands down the most interesting matchup in this series. Although Mitchell and Butler is a close second. 5. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34 last year, lost to Golden State in the Western Conference Semifinals) Added: • Elfrid Payton (free agency) • Julius Randle (free agency) Draft: • Tony Carr (No. 51 pick) Lost: • DeMarcus Cousins (signed with Warriors) • Rajon Rondo (signed with Lakers) Free Agents: • Charles Cooke – UFA • Jordan Crawford -- UFA Under Contract: • Alexis Ajinca • Jordan Crawford • Ian Clark (re-signed) • Anthony Davis • Cheick Diallo • Larry Drew II • Solomon Hill • Jrue Holiday • Frank Jackson • DeAndre Liggins • Darius Miller • Nikola Mirotic (opt in) • E'Twaun Moore • Emeka Okafor Why they are number 5: Weird that a team who lost DeMarcus Cousins would vault up the list but the Pelicans took the Warriors to the brink in the playoffs last year without his services. New Orleans added a very capable fill in though in Julius Randle and teaming him up with Anthony Davis will give many teams fits. As long as the Pelicans can get steady production from their wings they will compete all year long. Expect big things coming for The Brow and friends. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Pelicans 98 Game 2: Timberwolves 120, Pelicans 102 Game 3: Timberwolves 116, Pelicans 98 Game 4: Timberwolves 118, Pelicans 107 The Wolves swept the season series against the Pelicans 4-0 with relative ease. They did a good job against Davis too, holding him below his season averages. The addition of Randle will tip the scales closer but this is the point where Minnesota start to catch up with the field. With a more even front court, it will fall on the Pelicans back court to win this matchup. I'm intrigued by how Taj Gibson will contend with Julius Randle when they square off. You can't overlook KAT vs. Anthony Davis though, because that is the real marquee matchup between these two teams. 6. San Antonio Spurs (47-35 last year, lost to Golden State in the Western Conference Quarterfinals) Added: • Marco Belinelli (free agency) • Dante Cunningham (free agency) • DeMar DeRozan (trade with Raptors) • Jakob Poeltl (trade with Raptors) Draft: • Lonnie Walker IV (No. 18 pick) • Chimezie Metu (No. 49 pick) Lost: • Kyle Anderson (signed with Grizzlies) • Danny Green (trade with Raptors) • Kawhi Leonard (trade with Raptors) • Tony Parker (signed with Hornets) • Brandon Paul (waived) Free Agents: • Matt Costello -- UFA • Darrun Hilliard -- RFA** • Joffrey Lauvergne -- UFA Under Contract: • LaMarcus Aldridge • Davis Bertans (re-signed) • Bryn Forbes (re-signed) • Pau Gasol • Rudy Gay (re-signed) • Manu Ginobili • Patty Mills • Dejounte Murray • Derrick White Why they are number 6: One of the most controversial off-seasons in the Greg Popovich era ended with Kawhi Leonard being traded to Toronto. Leonard was injured and opted not to play most of the season for San Antonio, and despite all of that the Spurs made the playoffs once again. The Spurs always find ways to overcome the odds and they are the most team-oriented organization in the NBA. Add a motivated DeMar DeRozan to the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol and I see no reason the Spurs won’t be fighting for the playoffs at season’s end. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Spurs 107, Timberwolves 99 Game 2: Timberwolves 98, Spurs 86 Game 3: Spurs 117, Timberwolves 101 The Spurs won the season series 2-1, with the Wolves winning the lone game at Target Center. The Wolves struggled in both games on the road, and LaMarcus Aldridge was a dominant force in all 3 games. The Wolves will need to keep both him and now DeMar DeRozan from taking over in order to win the series. I look forward to seeing Jimmy Butler tango with newly acquired DeMar DeRozan as the biggest matchup in this series. 7. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35 last year, lost to Houston in the Western Conference Quarterfinals) Added: • James Nunnally (free agency) • Anthony Tolliver (free agency) Draft: • Josh Okogie (No. 20 pick) • Keita Bates-Diop (No. 48 pick) Lost: • Cole Aldrich (waived) • Nemanja Bjelica (signed with Kings) Free Agents: • Aaron Brooks – UFA • Anthony Brown – UFA • Jamal Crawford – UFA • Marcus Georges-Hunt – RFA • Amile Jefferson -- RFA Under Contract: • Jimmy Butler • Gorgui Dieng • Taj Gibson • Tyus Jones • Justin Patton • Derrick Rose (re-signed) • Jeff Teague • Karl-Anthony Towns • Andrew Wiggins Why they are number 7: When fully healthy the Wolves were the 3rd seed in the Western Conference. And that was with a less than stellar bench and the starters playing together for the first time. Enter year two and the Wolves hope to at least match last year’s success. With a deeper and more versatile bench, Minnesota looks poised to hang with what is an incredibly deep Western Conference. 8. Los Angeles Lakers (35-47 last year, missed the playoffs) Added: • Michael Beasley (free agency) • LeBron James (free agency) • JaVale McGee (free agency) • Rajon Rondo (free agency) • Lance Stephenson (free agency) Draft: • Moritz Wagner (No. 25 pick) • Issac Bonga (No. 39 pick) • Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (No. 47 pick) Lost: • Thomas Bryant (waived) • Tyler Ennis (waived) • Channing Frye (signed with Cavs) • Brook Lopez (signed with Bucks) • Julius Randle (signed with Pelicans) • Isaiah Thomas (signed with Nuggets) Free Agents: • Andre Ingram – RFA • Gary Payton II -- UFA Under Contract: • Lonzo Ball • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (re-signed) • Alex Caruso • Luol Deng • Josh Hart • Brandon Ingram • Kyle Kuzma • Travis Wear (re-signed**) • Ivica Zubac Why they are number 8: The Lakers were both young and bad last year. Enter LeBron James. The Lakers didn’t land the second big fish they were hoping to land once LeBron came west, but in missing out they retained their entire young core. Add in every single villain in LeBron’s career and this season could either be fascinating or a disaster. Something tells me though that even in the Western Conference the Lakers will be somewhere near the top of the standings. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 121, Lakers 104 Game 2: Timberwolves 114, Lakers 96 Game 3: Timberwolves 119, Lakers 111 Game 4: Timberwolves 113, Lakers 96 The Wolves won every game of the series with the Lakers suffering through a dismal season. With LeBron now a Laker things become immensely more difficult for the Wolves as long as LeBron is still the best player on the planet. The Lakers young core also should be better too. This series should be more competitive this season. It will be interesting to see what position LeBron plays and who the Timberwolves will try to match him up with. 9. Portland Trail Blazers (49-33 last year, lost to New Orleans in the Western Conference Quarterfinals) Added: • Seth Curry (free agency) • Nik Stauskas (free agency) Draft: • Anfernee Simons (No. 24 pick) • Gary Trent Jr. (No. 37 pick) Lost: • Pat Connaughton (signed with Bucks) • Ed Davis (signed with Nets) • Shabazz Napier (signed with Nets) • Georgios Papagiannis (waived) Free Agents: • CJ Wilcox -- UFA Under Contract: • Al-Farouq Aminu • Wade Baldwin IV • Zach Collins • Maurice Harkless • Jake Layman • Meyers Leonard • Damian Lillard • C.J. McCollum • Jusuf Nurkic (re-signed) • Caleb Swanigan • Evan Turner Why they are number 9: While Portland is tremendously talented, they were one of the only top tier Western Conference teams who didn’t make a major impact move. The Trail Blazers did add Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas to help shore up the bench. The lineup with Lillard and McCollum and Nurkic is still very good but this team has a similar feel to the Clippers with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan that was very good in the regular season but just couldn’t make noise in the postseason. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 108, Trail Blazers 107 Game 2: Timberwolves 120, Trail Blazers 103 Game 3: Trail Blazers 123, Timberwolves 114 Game 4: Trail Blazers 108, Timberwolves 99 Both teams split the 4 game series last year, with each team winning both of their games at home. The Wolves did lose the final game of the series while Jimmy Butler was on the shelf, so it is possible that the Wolves could end up winning the series next season. As long as Lillard stays quiet this should be a very competitive series. Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler against Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is the matchup worth the price of admission in this series. 10. Denver Nuggets (46-36 last year, missed playoffs) Added: • Isaiah Thomas (free agency) Draft: • Michael Porter Jr. (No. 14 pick) • Jarred Vanderbilt (No. 41 pick) • Thomas Welsh (No. 58 pick) Lost: • Darrell Arthur (traded to Nets) • Wilson Chandler (traded to 76ers) • Kenneth Faried (traded to Nets) • Isaiah Whitehead (waived) Free Agents: • Devin Harris -- UFA • Richard Jefferson -- UFA Under Contract: • Will Barton (re-signed) • Malik Beasley • Torrey Craig (re-signed) • Gary Harris • Juancho Hernangomez • Nikola Jokic (contract extension) • Tyler Lydon • Trey Lyles • Paul Millsap • Monte Morris** • Jamal Murray • Mason Plumlee Why they are number 10: The Nuggets ended up watching the playoffs from home after losing the final game of the regular season to the Wolves. Paul Milsap at full strength alongside Nikola Jokic should help the Nuggets stay competitive, and the addition of Isaiah Thomas will help at scoring to the bench. The Nuggets did have to unload several bench pieces to avoid a massive luxury tax bill, and it will be a struggle to replace the production. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 104 Game 2: Timberwolves 128, Nuggets 125 Game 3: Nuggets 100, Timberwolves 96 Game 4: Timberwolves 112, Nuggets 106 The Wolves went 3-1 against the Nuggets, including the win-and-in final game of the regular season. Jokic against Towns provided a great look at the future of centers in the NBA. Jimmy Butler averaged 35 PPG against the Nuggets in 3 games. The lone game the Nuggets won was while Jimmy Butler was injured, so the Wolves should have the upper hand in the season series again this year. Towns vs. Jokic provided some fascinating back and forth action, especially in the final game of the regular season. As both players continue to grow this will prove to be a battle of two of the top centers in the NBA. The Playoff Hopefuls 11. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60 last year, missed the playoffs) Added: • Kyle Anderson (free agency) • Omri Casspi (free agency) • Dakari Johnson (trade with Magic) • Shelvin Mack (free agency) • Garrett Temple (trade with Kings) Draft: • Jaren Jackson Jr. (No. 4 pick) • Jevon Carter (No. 32 pick) Lost: • Deyonta Davis (traded to Kings) • Tyreke Evans (signed with Pacers) • Jarell Martin (traded to Magic) • Ben McLemore (traded to Kings) Free Agents: • Mario Chalmers -- UFA Under Contract: • Dillon Brooks • MarShon Brooks • Mike Conley • Marc Gasol • JaMychal Green • Andrew Harrison • Myke Henry • Omari Johnson • Chandler Parsons • Ivan Rabb • Wayne Selden • Kobi Simmons • Marquis Teague • Briante Weber Why they are number 11: This ranking may seem odd, but the Grizzlies suffered through an immense number of injuries last year. Mike Conley missed a majority of the season, and the team had to also deal with the firing of David Fizdale. When healthy, this is mostly the same roster that Fizdale took to the playoffs 2 years ago. While they won’t compete for a top playoff spot, if other teams in front of them struggle or deal with injuries, the Grizzlies could sneak in. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Grizzlies 95, Timberwolves 92 Game 2: Grizzlies 101, Timberwolves 93 Game 3: Timberwolves 113, Grizzlies 94 Despite being a lottery team the Grizzlies won the season series 2-1 over the Wolves last year. They snapped an 11 game losing streak to win the first matchup of the year after the Wolves imploded. It just goes to show you that even if you are near the bottom of the standings, you can still give a playoff team fits. A fully healthy Grizzlies team could give the Wolves some more problems next season. 12. Dallas Mavericks (24-58 last year, missed playoffs) Added: • Devin Harris (free agency) • DeAndre Jordan (free agency) • Ding Yanyuhang (free agency) Draft: • Luka Doncic (No. 3 pick) • Jalen Brunson (No. 33 pick) • Ray Spalding (No. 56 pick) • Kostas Antetokounmpo (No. 60 pick) Lost: • Kyle Collinsworth (waived) • Seth Curry (signed with Blazers) • Yogi Ferrell (signed with Kings) • Doug McDermott (signed with Pacers) • Johnathan Motley ** (traded to Clippers) • Nerlens Noel (signed with Thunder) Free Agents: • Aaron Harrison -- RFA Under Contract: • J.J. Barea • Harrison Barnes • Dorian Finney-Smith • Jalen Jones ** • Maxi Kleber • Wesley Matthews (opt in) • Salah Mejri (re-signed) • Dirk Nowitzki (re-signed) • Dwight Powell • Dennis Smith Jr. Why they are number 12: The Mavericks are in a state of transition, but don’t let that fool you. Dallas will combine intriguing youngsters with reliable veterans. After nearly signing with the Mavericks a few seasons ago, DeAndre Jordan opted to give them a shot this offseason before hitting the market again next year. Dirk is back for yet another season, but it likely won’t end in a playoff appearance with how stacked the rest of the West is. But as with Memphis, if injuries ravage the top of the standings, the Mavericks could sneak in if they quickly gel. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 112, Mavericks 99 Game 2: Timberwolves 111, Mavericks 87 Game 3: Timberwolves 97, Mavericks 92 Game 4: Timberwolves 93, Mavericks 92 The Wolves won all 4 games against Dallas last year. One nearly went as a loss during the period of the schedule that the Wolves were struggling the most. But they were still able to win all of their matchups and even with DeAndre Jordan, the Wolves still are the better team and will end up winning the series at the very least. The key matchup here will be Towns vs. Jordan, but I will look forward to seeing how the Maverics attempt to incorporate Luka Doncic into the fold. 13. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40 last year, missed playoffs) Added: • Marcin Gortat (trade with Wizards) • Johnathan Motley ** (trade with Mavericks) • Mike Scott (free agency) • Luc Mbah a Moute (free agency) Draft: • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11 pick) • Jerome Robinson (No. 13 pick) • Rights to Vladimir Veremeenko (2006 Draft pick) Lost: • Sam Dekker (traded to Cavs) • Austin Rivers (traded to Wizards) • DeAndre Jordan (signed with Mavericks) • C.J. Williams (waived) Free Agents: • Tyrone Wallace -- RFA** Under Contract: • Patrick Beverley • Avery Bradley (re-signed) • Jawun Evans • Danilo Gallinari • Montrezl Harrell (re-signed) • Tobias Harris • Boban Marjanovic • Wesley Johnson (opt in) • Milos Teodosic (opt in) • Sindarius Thornwell • Lou Williams Why they are number 13: The core of Chris Paul-Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan is all gone. This team is now in the midst of their transition to being younger, but there are still plenty of intriguing players on the roster. Marcin Gortat and Tobias Harris form a solid combo down low for the Clippers, but health will be critical for this team to succeed. Avery Bradley struggled after he joined the team, and it looks like this roster is at least a couple of years away from contending for a playoff spot. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 112, Clippers 106 Game 2: Timberwolves 113, Clippers 107 Game 3: Timberwolves 126, Clippers 118 Game 4: Timberwolves 123, Clippers 109 Another team that the Wolves swept in the regular season. Andrew Wiggins torched the Clippers, including 40 points in game 3 of the series. Jeff Teague also played well against Los Angeles, averaging 19.5 PPG in the 4 matchups. Without Jordan, KAT should be able to feast on Gortat. Jimmy Butler also should be able to exploit the Clippers next year. The matchup I'm watching in this series is Andrew Wiggins vs. Danilo Galinari. The Clippers really don't have another player that can stack up against what the Wolves have, so that is as close to an even battle as we will get. 14. Phoenix Suns (21-61 last year, missed playoffs) Added: • Trevor Ariza (free agency) • Richaun Holmes (trade with 76ers) • Darrell Arthur (trade with Nets) Draft: • Deandre Ayton (No. 1 pick) • Mikal Bridges (No. 10 pick) • Elie Okobo (No. 31 pick) • George King (No. 59 pick) Lost: • Jared Dudley (traded to Nets) • Alex Len (signed with Hawks) • Elfrid Payton (signed with Pelicans) • Tyler Ulis (waived) • Alan Williams (waived) Free Agents: • Danuel House -- UFA • Alec Peters -- UFA Under Contract: • Dragan Bender • Devin Booker (contract extension) • Tyson Chandler • Marquese Chriss • Troy Daniels • Shaquille Harrison • Josh Jackson • Brandon Knight • Davon Reed • T.J. Warren Why they are number 14: Phoenix is very similar to where the Timberwolves were when they first drafted Karl-Anthony Towns. They are very talented, but just too young at this point to seriously compete. Devin Booker is the face of the franchise and the Suns have several intriguing young players. But they all need experience and just to hope that someday they can rise to the top of the mountain. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Suns 118, Timberwolves 110 Game 2: Timberwolves 119, Suns 108 Game 3: Suns 108, Timberwolves 106 Game 4: Timberwolves 115, Suns 106 Both teams split the season series 2-2 and each won a game on the other team’s home court. Devin Booker only played in game 1 but poured in 35 points in a Suns win. Jimmy Butler scored at least 25 points in 3 of the 4 games against Phoenix, including 32 points in the Wolves game 4 win. With Booker having only played in 1 of the 4 games, these battles should continue next season. The key matchup between these two teams is Devin Booker against Jimmy Butler. Booker is the biggest scoring threat for the Suns, so if Butler can shut him down the Wolves should be in good shape. 15. Sacramento Kings (27-55 last year, missed playoffs) Added: • Nemanja Bjelica (free agency) • Yogi Ferrell (free agency) • Ben McLemore (trade with Grizzlies) • Deyonta Davis (trade with Grizzlies) Draft: • Marvin Bagley III (No. 2 pick) Lost: • Garrett Temple (traded to Grizzlies) Free Agents: • Bruno Caboclo -- RFA • Vince Carter -- UFA • Jack Cooley -- UFA • JaKarr Sampson -- RFA** Under Contract: • Bogdan Bogdanovic • Willie Cauley-Stein • De'Aaron Fox • Harry Giles III • Nigel Hayes • Buddy Hield • Justin Jackson • Kosta Koufos (opt in) • Skal Labissiere • Frank Mason III • Zach Randolph • Iman Shumpert (opt in) Why they are number 15: Sacramento rounds out the Western Conference. The Kings are young, and lack an impact player that all of the playoff teams have. With some new faces maybe this is where they start to climb back up the ladder, but with the way things have gone the last few years that seems very unlikely. How the Wolves stacked up a season ago: Game 1: Timberwolves 119, Kings 96 Game 2: Timberwolves 111, Kings 106 Game 3: Timberwolves 118, Kings 100 The Timberwolves won all three matchups with relative ease. The lone exception was Game 2 of the series, when the Wolves finally took the lead for good in the 4th quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns feasted on the Kings, averaging 28.3 PPG in the 3 games against the Wolves. He also shot 69.7% from the field, which is absurd. The Kings didn't really have a standout performer against Minnesota, which further highlights their need for an impact player. I don't see any reason why the Wolves won't win the series again in 2018-19. The key matchup in this series would I suppose be Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler against De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. But as I said the Kings really don't have an impact player to contend with Minnesota. So there you have it. The Western Conference is absolutely stacked, with clear cut favorites and teams who will be fighting for a top 8 spot this year. The nice thing is that the Wolves will be one of those teams competing for a playoff spot. And after several years without the playoffs, back to back years sounds pretty great. (roster transactions via NBA.com) Seth is host of The Scoop on KLGR Radio out of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Listen to episodes of The Scoop here.  Tolga Adanali/Getty Images In 2015 Turkish club Fenerbahce Ulker parted ways with their EuroLeague MVP Nemanja Bjelica so he could come fulfill a role for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Three years later, after shaping himself into a reliable 3-point bomber, the 30-year-old moved on to the Sacramento Kings. However, Fenerbahce have come through with another mature-age sniper for the Timberwolves to sink their teeth into: 6-foot-7 wing James Nunnally. The 28-year-old signed a 2-year, league minimum deal with Minnesota on Tuesday. After his 2013-14 debut season in the NBA yielded just 13 appearances between Atlanta and Phoenix, Nunnally made the move to Europe. The five year trip included visits to Puerto Rico, Spain, Israel, Italy and finally Turkey, including an annual return back to the US to participate for a horde of Summer League squads. After averaging 9.3 points while nailing 54 percent of his field goals and 55.4 percent from outside the arc in 29 EuroLeague appearances last season, he explained what got him back to the big leagues in a recent interview with the Pioneer Press. “I just wanted to be one of the best players in Europe. That was my goal,” Nunnally said “I think things just started falling into place when I focused on my game and getting better and I fulfilled my role on the team I was on.” With Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins both being known to enjoy a mid-range jumper or two, Nunnally's finely tuned long-range gunning will be a nice change of pace in the Wolves offense. The ridiculous 3-point percentage he put up last year was no fluke either, the former University of California, Santa Barbara standout nailed 45.1 percent of his triples in 2016-17 EuroLeague play and 39.3 percent the season before. Nunnally exhibits all the telltale signs of a deadly shooter. He is constantly relocating around the perimeter to give potential passers room to find him, his feet and hands are always set in shooting formation, and defenders' hands seem to be nothing but a crosshair that he uses to aim. The Timberwolves' bench shot the 3rd fewest 3-pointers last season, hitting a poultry 34.7 percent of the 7.7 attempts per night, so adding Nunnally's stroke to the mix is a smart move from Tom Thibodeau. “Just bring something different that wasn’t [already] on the court ... Whether I started and I was setting the tone or I came off the bench, I knocked down my shots. If I got any open space I was shooting it, and I was shooting it with confidence.” Nunnally told the Pioneer Press. The 28-year-old isn't just a shooter though, his ball handling and playmaking grew throughout his years abroad, and he finishes well around the rim with athletic drives and deft floaters. His nice touch is demonstrated by the fact he connected on 52 percent of his 2-point attempts and 89.7 percent of his free throws - Nunnally was clearly an NBA level scorer throughout his Fenerbahce years.
Like Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau, Fenerbahce leader Zelijko Obradovic is heralded for his defensive exploits, so you can rest assured that Nunnally knows that he will need to compete defensively if he wants to see regular minutes. According to RealGM, the combo wing has posted positive defensive win share numbers in every single season during his European tour and his defensive rating ranked in the top 50 in both EuroLeague and in Turkish league play. If you listen closely, you can almost hear Thibs' defense-loving grin from the Mayo Clinic front office. The list of players who have matured overseas then made their splash in the NBA is countless, players like Joe Ingles, both Bojan and Bogdan Bogdanovic and the aforementioned Nemanja Bjelica all attest to that. If the elite shooting and hard-nosed defense James Nunnally displayed in his NBA exile can translate in his return, he has a great chance to etch his name into that same group of role-playing studs. 
Aaron Lavinsky - Star Tribune
'By: Jake Paynting
Tyus Jones. The Timberwolves' ever-polarizing backup point guard. A man universally loved by his hometown Minnesota fans and despised by Derrick Rose apologists (there are a whole lot of them). A man who, despite playing well at every chance, has never really fit into what head coach Tom Thibodeau has implemented since arriving in the Twin Cities. He averaged 5.1 points, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in sporadic minutes last season, which included his first 11 NBA starts. At times, he was the ideal fit next to the ball-dominant Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins and - to a degree - Karl-Anthony Towns. The ball never sticks to the 22-year-old's mitts, and his pesky defense has been one of the biggest surprises coming out of his title winning year at Duke. Evidence of Jones' high caliber floor general-ing comes in one of the more frequently cited Timberwolves statistics this year; The lineup of Jones, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, Taj Gibson and Karl-Anthony Towns not only had thebest net rating (+23.5) out of any Wolves five, it ranked as the best line-up in the league that featured in over 200 total minutes. Even Butler, who has been reported to rub teammates the wrong way, has taken a shine to his reserve point guard. "Tyus plays basketball the right way and he takes and makes big shots all the time; the most outstanding player in the tournament, don’t forget that, Tyus Jones." he said in a early-season post-game interview. "I mean, he gets on our nerves. He's like calling out plays and just [because] we don't want to hear his voice, we do what he tells us to do. At the end of the day, I guess he calls out the right ones", Butler joked after another game.
The advanced statistics love him, and clearly, his fellow squad members do too. So why couldn't Tyus Jones average over 18 minutes per game? Why did he feature in 10 minutes or less in a whopping 11 different games? The fact is he doesn't fit the model that 2011 Coach of the Year has hammered in place since his Windy City beginnings. Derrick Rose, CJ Watson, Kirk Hinrich, Nate Robinson, Dj Augustin, Aaron Brooks, Ricky Rubio and Jeff Teague. That's the list of one-guards that have played over 20 minutes per game under Thibs. Apart from Rubio - who was promptly traded after a single season - all of those guys are score-first, create-second players. They are all shifty bucket-getters who can take over stretches with a scoring outburst. Jones is the square peg when it comes to this round hole. At a meager 6-foot, with a solid burst of speed and a toughness that is surprising for his size, Jones fits the physical bill of a Thibs favorite. However, the former Duke star isn't mentally built like the aforementioned group of guards. He will often look to pass before even thinking about jacking up a shot, even if he has been nudged into a scoring role by his coach.
Even good friend Jimmy Butler was overheard multiple times last season telling his point guard to fire more shots off. So it isn't just the coaching staff urging Jones to become the dynamic scorer he has shown flashes of being.
Of course, coach Thibodeau could try to change his ways and successfully integrate a player of Jones' quality into his offensive scheme. Especially since he shines on Thibs' favored defensive end. However, we have seen enough to know that the 60-year-old doesn't adjust as quickly as some other head coaches. Instead, we can only hope that Tyus Jones receives the transmission loud and clear: Shoot more and you play more. The Timberwolves bench finished 16th in points per 100 possessions last season, so maybe the mad scientist Minnesota calls its coach has a valid point. With former MVP Derrick Rose back in the fold, Tyus Jones will need to transform his pass-first mentality this off-season if he wants to earn ample minutes and a nice payday next summer. |
