Breaking down the Timberwolves roster and the future

[Dash]

Beasley was brilliant for the Timberwolves for the first half of the season but since then has put together some subpar performances. In fact since the All-Star break Beasley's numbers have dipped from 20 points per game to 16.6 on 16 shots (41%), which is just awful. He's been reduced to a low IQ, no defense, ballstopping chucker. To be fair though, there aren't many players on the Minnesota roster that have to the ability to create their own shots. It doesn't excuse Beasley's horrific play and I'm actually beginning to think that it might be best to ship him out this summer while his value is high, and then draft Harrison Barnes if the Wolves are unable to land Irving.

 

I love what Anthony Randolph has been doing for the Timberwolves recently but he still has a long way to go before I consider any part of the Wolves' future plans. His IQ is low and is prone to make many mistakes and cause turnover, this can fixed considering how young Randolph but so far he hasn't done much to improve in any of those areas. He also needs to develop some sort of consistency, one day he explodes for 24 points and the next he's 0-5 and his biggest statlines are 4 fouls and 3 turnovers. He does have a ton of potential and has shown some flashes of becoming a solid NBA player but he's going to have to work on his game over the summer.

 

Wesley Johnson is great. I have no complaints about him whatsoever, he defends, he rebounds, he can shoot. I doubt he will ever be an All-Star but he can be one of those pivotal role players that every championship contending team desires. Still if DeMarcus Cousins ever lives up to his potential, the Wolves will be kicking themselves for passing on that kind of talent.

 

Love making the All-Star team this year was huge, he was the first to do it since Kevin Garnett although I do feel Al Jefferson (prior to the knee injury) should have been an All-Star. Minnesota's #1 priority in the offseason should be to sign Love to an extension but do so without giving him starlike dollars. Despite all the historic accomplishments Love has done this season, I do not think he will ever becoming a star but he makes a great robin. Anyways I'm not here to bash Love but I do feel he's overrated sometimes (and underrated too, mostly by bitter Blazer fans). Kahn should be negotiating on an extension ASAP.

 

I'm still unsure about what Minnesota should do if they somehow do land the #1 pick in the draft. Should they draft Irving and then ship off Rubio? Should they trade down one or two spots and pick up a few extra assets and then take Harrison Barnes or Derrick Williams? Should Kahn just flat out trade the pick in exchange for an All-Star (much like New Jersey did)? I don't know but what I do know is that David Kahn and Tony Ronzone are incredibly high on Rubio (hence why they're so stubborn to trade him) and I view Rubio as a once in a decade kind of point guard prospect, whether he lives up to that potential is all on him though.

 

In the end I have no clue what the future holds for Minnesota. Can they be a playoff team in 2 or 3 years? Definitely but what David Kahn does over the summer is going to largely affect what their future looks like. I was disappointed when Kahn refused to use the large trade exception from the Al Jefferson trade and after signing his first round picks, he won't have much cap space left over either. Maybe he has a plan, I don't know but I have always felt that Kahn received too much hate from the media and casual NBA fans. However, I may join in with the Minnesota rioters that want to throw Kahn and his staff out of office IF he once again disappoints and doesn't improve the team with his summer moves.

[Check my Stats]

I have never seen players put up hollower stats on a team than in Minnesota, ever.