Let's say we don't get the Wolves pick this year

[GSWFan1994]

Let's, for a brief moment in time, suppose the ping pong balls give us bad luck at the next draft, and the Wolves keep their pick.

Then next season, as everyone and their mothers know, we get their unprotected pick.

Thus, they would be a chance at Cade/Mobley/Suggs/Green.

Adding one of them to a core of KAT, Edwards, DLO, Beasley, (maybe) Rubio, McDaniels, Okogie and others might make them a much improved team, with a much clearer pecking order.

So, my question is, in that scenario, are the Wolves a playoff team?

Would they be improved enough, mainly in defense, to compete for a spot?

Or are the other West teams simply on another level?

[SAKURABA216]

I thought they would be good this year with Edwards lol. If they get Mobley they could be a pretty well balanced team. If they get Cade, they would have an awesome backcourt duo with Cade + Ant-man with Towns in the middle. But again, its the T-Wolves we are talking about and they will find a way to lose. They are like the Detroit Lions in that they are so used to losing that they don't put up much resistance and accept that they are likely going to lose around half-time.

[KevinMcreynolds]

they're still going to be terrible

[and1GS]

Not a playoff team. Probably about where the Kings are now.

[tal57]

they're still going to be terrible

Don't underestimate the change of ownership with the Wolves. Either the group or individual billionaire buying the NBA team these days is absolutely flushed with cash. That new group or the guy buying the team languishing in very bad PR may want to spare no expense in immediately changing the team's image. If I understand correctly, the only expensive guys on the roster are Towns and DLo. If they make creative moves, maybe shed Rubio's salary, they may have room to go on the FA shopping spree. Get one or two of those who fit and with the two back to back very high draft pics they may suddenly become much better next year than we perceive they will be.

[and1GS]

they're still going to be terrible

Don't underestimate the change of ownership with the Wolves. Either the group or individual billionaire buying the NBA team these days is absolutely flushed with cash. That new group or the guy buying the team languishing in very bad PR may want to spare no expense in immediately changing the team's image. If I understand correctly, the only expensive guys on the roster are Towns and DLo. If they make creative moves, maybe shed Rubio's salary, they may have room to go on the FA shopping spree. Get one or two of those who fit and with the two back to back very high draft pics they may suddenly become much better next year than we perceive they will be.

What free agents want to play in Minny willingly? Derrick Rose and Kirilenko are their biggest FA signings in the past decade. That doesn't change overnight and likely won't until they change cities. Even San Antonio has had trouble landing big FAs due to their location.

[shazam_guy]

The Wolves should learn to play defense. Until then, they're not going to move up very far even with Cunningham. I agree with And1GS -- they'll look like a slightly more offensively-skilled version of the Kings.

It must be tearing at Luke Walton's soul to watch that team play defense sometimes.

[GSWFan1994]

Just did an Edith Piaf to add a poll to the thread. Enjoy.

[HiRez]

They won’t be a top team but they’ll be better We really want that #4-#5 pick this year. Or trade it. Sticky choice because if we wait until the pick resolves there’s a good chance the value drops even though theoretically it could be top 3 in 2022.

[TB]

We'd just hope they are a bottom 9 team, which i think they would be. That gives us a 20% chance (at worst) to a 52% chance (at best) of hitting the lotto and getting a top 4 pick. Not to mention the chance at a top 3, which we don't have this year.

It's still a great asset even if we don't get the 4/5 this year. I just like the idea of getting it now when we know it likely means Jaylen Green or Kuminga, vs having to spend all year rooting for ping pong balls again.

[donkeylips]

7-10

[WESCO]

The more minutes D-Lo gets, the higher the pick.

[floppymoose]

Yeah... heavy DLo or trading KAT both possibilities. Either of those means a great pick.