OTP End of Summer Mailbag

By: Louie Vicchiollo and Jonah Sprinkel

The NBA season is fast approaching. This is great news for basketball junkies who miss their favorite sport and especially for Wolves fans who are eager to see their new-look team on the court for the first time. 

That said, this will be the last offseason-centric post here at On The Prowl in 2017. Training Camp is two weeks away, so we'll be turning our attention to actual basketball activities. For now, enjoy this End of Summer Mailbag by Louie and Jonah, who are anxious to start covering the 28th season of Timberwolves basketball. A season that could end the longest playoff drought in the NBA. 

Q: The Wolves are hosting free agents this week. Do you know which players are invited? Also, what players have received a contract offer? - @MDTrapp

JS: According to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, the Timberwolves have worked out free agents Thomas Robinson, Alan Anderson, Trey Burke, Isaiah Canaan, Perry Jones and Anthony Morrow. All of those guys seem pretty "meh" to me. I don't think Burke would be a bad third point guard. With his experience in the league, he can be competent if he is needed to play.

On a much more positive note, I can tell you that both Dante Cunningham and Shabazz Muhammad have received contract offers from the team. The latter spent last year with the New Orleans Pelicans as a part time starter/part time bench player with a quality perimeter shot. The former spent last season with the Wolves, where he drove me bonkers with his inconsistent play.

Q: Would you rather start Dieng or Gibson? - @jjbgenson

LV: Editor Dan Slaubaugh will have more a detailed answer to this on the website later this week!

Q: Best case scenario, how far do the pups get in the playoffs this year? - @zachtotz

LV: As bad as I want to tell you the Timberwolves will make the conference finals, even that may be reaching too far for our beloved pups. We have heard regular season projections as good as fourth, and as low as eighth but the playoffs are a different beast. Getting to the playoffs is one of the goals we set for the Wolves this year, but just how far they make it is a whole different story. Realistically, making it to the second round is more than possible, but best case scenario, we see our Wolves get knocked out by the Warriors in the conference finals. 

Q: Will KAT finally become an All-Star? - @jjbgenson

LV: Yes. One hundred and ten percent yes. If Karl's post All-Star break stats (28.4 PTS, 13.4 REB, 2.2 AST, 59.7 FG% and 43.4 3P%) have any indication of what he will do this year, there is no way he won't be an All-Star. Beyond the statistics, Karl seems to be one of the most liked players not only by other NBA players, but by the fans as well. This combination of jaw dropping stats and being one of the most liked young guys in the league will surely put KAT into the All-Star lineup. 

Q: Is KAT good? - @A_Mar32

LV: Did you really just ask me that?