The Minnesota Timberwolves have been forced to watch the conclusion of the 2019/20 NBA season after the league returned with only 22 of the 30 teams. Ryan Saunders’ men were already out of contention for the post-season before matches were halted and the NBA opted to leave the sides that were not capable of qualifying for the playoffs outside of their bubble for the rest of the basketball season.
It has allowed Saunders and his team time to regroup ahead of the new campaign where the mission to propel the franchise back into the mix in the Western Conference will begin. Minnesota appear to be committed to a long-term solution to their issues – hence the hiring of Saunders at the age of 33.
The Timberwolves made the bold decision to move on from former first-overall pick Andrew Wiggins during the campaign, receiving D’Angelo Russell in exchange. It will take moves of that nature to spark a life in a franchise that has reached the playoffs just once in the last 16 years. Karl-Anthony Towns remains the figure that Saunders can build his team around, while Russell displayed a great deal of poise in his 14 starts before their season was curtailed.
There was also encouragement to take from the performances of Juan Hernangomez and Malik Beasley after both arrived in trade deals during the term. Jarrett Culver also suggested that he could become a future cornerstone of the franchise after producing a solid rookie season. However, there’s no escaping that the Timberwolves are a long way from competing with the teams of the ilk of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, who are the leading contenders for the title among the NBA bookmakers. LegalBetting.com offers a great support to punters when talking about sports betting. There, fans will find everything they need to know to enjoy NBA betting, from reviews of online sportsbooks to guides on the kinds of wagers they can make on basketball games.
The Denver Nuggets have developed into a solid team under the tenure of Michael Malone. Hernangomez and Beasley were part of the side that found their form to win the Northwest Division in back-to-back campaigns. They were unfortunate to lose out in a thriller against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semi-Finals last season – suffering a 4- 3 defeat. The Nuggets have developed the perfect blend of young talent and experience on the court.
Paul Millsap provides the guile and knowledge of game situations following his 13 years in the league. Whereas Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the upstart players, beginning to assert their authority as top playmakers in the NBA. Neither are statistical freaks, averaging fewer than 20 points per game in the regular season, but Malone ensures that the sum of his side is greater than the parts at his disposal. The Nuggets have punched above their weight amid the star power of the other sides in the Western Conference and it’s an example that the
Timberwolves should heed.
Russell can match the best in the game in terms of scoring and he has only scratched the surface of his potential. Working in tandem with Beasley will allow both players to develop, while Towns will be the foundation of the team, dominating at both ends of the court. No player will be under more pressure to prove a point than Towns that he can take ownership of the franchise and drag it towards respectability once more.
The performances of those three players will allow Culver and Jordan McLaughlin to come into their own and learn the ways of the NBA. All eyes will be on the 2020 Draft as well, which could further bolster the ranks with an array of talent. Minnesota have building blocks in place, but Saunders and the team still have to deliver.
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