Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Hard luck kids of the NBA lottery

By Jaime Tyler

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the podium and stage before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the podium and stage before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Bad teams and bad luck

To illustrate, let’s examine the Timberwolves’ draft history and compare it to some other woeful contenders.

In order to be considered for this informal basketball study, a team has to have been a Frequent Lottery Contestant (FLC).

For instance, teams like the Lakers, Spurs, and Heat are not welcome in this group.

Why? Add up those three franchises’ trips to the lottery, and they total 16, four fewer than the Timberwolves’ score of appearances.

To add insult to injury, San Antonio has made three trips to the lottery and improved their standing all three times. Clearly, they’ve enjoyed some of the lotto’s best luck.

On the other end of the spectrum — the crème de la crème of draft deadbeats — lie the teams we’re interested in examining.

Since the 1985 Patrick Ewing sweepstakes, there has been a total of 32 lotteries, and to enter this debate, a team must have strolled down loser’s lane at least 15 times.

According to RealGM.com, that generates ten ping-pong powerhouses: Charlotte Hornets (17 appearances), Cleveland Cavaliers (15), Golden State Warriors (21), Los Angeles Clippers (23), Minnesota Timberwolves (20), Milwaukee Bucks (16), Philadelphia 76ers (17), Sacramento Kings (21), Toronto Raptors (15), and the Washington Wizards (19). The appearances reflect a team’s original draft position and do not include additional transactions.

Of those ten teams, only the Minnesota Timberwolves have never improved their draft position.

To list, here are the ten teams and the number of times they’ve improved their standing:

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves: 20 appearances, 0 times improved, 10 times dropped
  2. Sacramento Kings: 21 appearances, 1 time improved, 10 times dropped
  3. Milwaukee Bucks: 16 appearances, 2 times improved, 5 times dropped
  4. Toronto Raptors: 15 appearances, 2 times improved, 5 times dropped
  5. Cleveland Cavaliers: 15 appearances, 2 times improved, 5 times dropped
  6. Golden State Warriors: 21 appearances, 3 times improved, 8 times dropped
  7. Charlotte Hornets: 17 appearances, 3 times improved, 7 times dropped
  8. Washington Wizards: 19 appearances, 3 times improved, 9 times dropped
  9. Los Angeles Clippers: 23 appearances, 7 times improved, 8 times dropped
  10. Philadelphia 76ers: 17 appearances, 7 times improved, 1 time dropped

As can be seen, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the only team among FLCs that has never ended up in a better position than when they began the evening.

Furthermore, out of the twenty lottery appearances, the Wolves have made, half of the time they end up in a position worse than when they started.

Contrast that with the Los Angeles Clippers, a historically woebegone franchise, who have remarkably improved their lottery status in seven out of their 23 trips to the also-ran affair.