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Which Timberwolves player would be the biggest injury loss?

By Cooper Langby

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 27, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 27, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have plenty of talent on their roster. If the worst should happen and an injury were to strike one of the Wolves’ stars once again, who would be the biggest loss?

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the opportunity for a franchise-altering season this year, with playoff basketball a real possibility for the first time in thirteen years. A number of key players can help make that a reality, but an injury to any of them could put the Timberwolves’ season in jeopardy.

Last season, the Spurs went down in the playoffs to the Warriors after losing Kawhi Leonard, and the Celtics didn’t stand much chance against the Cavs after Isaiah Thomas was ruled out. The Timberwolves’ themselves had their own injury problem during the season after losing starting shooting guard Zach LaVine with the Wolves still in playoff contention. At the time, LaVine was experiencing career-highs in almost all major statistical categories.

We’ll never know what might have been, but many T-Wolves fans believe that with LaVine still on the court for the remainder of the season, the playoff drought may have ended last season. So, should a similar injury occur this season, who would be the biggest loss?

There’s Andrew Wiggins, the possible soon-to-be max-contract man, who averaged 23.6 points per game on his way to the 11th-most points in the entire NBA last season, not to mention the most total minutes of any player.

There’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who averaged 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds in just his second NBA season. Towns himself ranked fifth in total points scored in the NBA and second in minutes played. Since being drafted, Towns has often been heralded as the face and the future of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise, and may be the biggest factor on the court for the Wolves.

Lastly, we have Wolves newcomer Jimmy Butler. The Jimmy Butler trade was a big turning point in the public opinion of the Timberwolves, with his addition instantly putting Minnesota on the collective radar of a number of NBA fans and cementing the public opinion of the Wolves as a serious playoff contender. In Chicago during the 2016-17 season, Butler averaged 23.9 points per game on his way to 16th-most points in the NBA and sixth-most minutes played.

BLOOMINGTON, MN – JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN – JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Sounds like a perfect fit for the Timberwolves, if you ask me.

Obviously, losing any of these top-caliber players would be a huge blow to the Timberwolves’ season. However, I personally think losing Karl-Anthony Towns would have the biggest and most catastrophic impact on the Wolves, and would possibly cause them to fall out of playoff contention altogether.

Towns is the face and the future of the Timberwolves’ franchise. He will be signing a max-contract extension next summer after leading the Wolves to the playoffs this year, and he’ll one day bring a championship back to Minnesota, not to mention an MVP trophy.

KAT has been forced to put up massive numbers in his first two seasons of the NBA, carrying a still-developing team as much as he can. The supporting cast may have improved this offseason, but so has Towns. If his numbers aren’t as big this year, you can still bet his contributions on both sides of the court will be.

Timberwolves fans will be hoping that the worst-case scenario doesn’t take place this year, and Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the Minnesota roster avoid injury, as Timberwolves basketball tastes playoff glory for the first time in thirteen years.

Next: Timberwolves Fans: The Importance of Appreciation

With a healthy team that lives up to its potential, the rest of the NBA better watch out for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, as they finally look to be serious contenders.

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