Predicting the Timberwolves Future

Dec 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders talks to guard Zach LaVine (8) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 90-82. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

It’s both exciting and risky attempting to predict the future of your favorite team because you can look like a genius doing it, but you can also look like a fool, making for some good laughs a few years later.

Perhaps the most difficult part in predicting the future is to stay level-headed, but at the same time you want to predict something bold, so at the end of it all, it looks like you have a crystal ball.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have built a young and talented team with a few veterans in the mix. Some of the young talents include: Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad, Ricky Rubio, Gorgui Dieng, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyus Jones, and I suppose you could include Anthony Bennett in that mix too, who’s still just twenty-two years old.

Another difficult thing to do is figuring out each of the young and talented players’ desires. Does Zach LaVine want to be a side-kick to Andrew Wiggins in Minnesota for four, maybe six seasons or does he want to run his own team, kind of like the Kevin Garnett – Stephon Marbury situation?

Will Shabazz Muhammad be comfortable being the sixth man in Minnesota for four or five seasons, when he could potentially, ultimately start for numerous teams? Will Ricky be happy in Minnesota for four more seasons? (his four- year, $54 million contract starts with the 2015-16 season). What would a player like Gorgui Dieng attract on the trade and/or free agent market?

Also, you have to remember that some of these young and talented players will be gone in a couple of years. The organization will not be able to re-sign every single one — to many young and talented players, getting a huge contract is most important — even more so than winning. Young players don’t always think about winning right now, they think, “get paid now, win later.”

The final factor that has to be taken into account is the projected rise in salary cap, which is a result of the new television deals (Kevin Durant could sign a $200 million contract at the end of the 2015-16 season).

All of those things listed above have to be taken into consideration.

Well, let’s get started. AND DON’T LAUGH….well, laugh if you want to.

Next: Reigning Rookie of the Year