Highest Hopes and Biggest Fears for the 2017-18 Timberwolves

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SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

Biggest Fear #1: What if…Jimmy Butler gets hurt?

Before I say anything else, I want to make it very clear that there is no real reason to expect that this would happen. But if it did…

I would cry. And being superstitious, I would blame myself for typing the above question. Anyway, here’s the somewhat substantial question at the heart of this hypothetical scenario:

Can Minnesota have nice things?

While Dalvin Cook, the promising rookie running back for the Minnesota Vikings, begins to recover from ACL surgery, Timberwolves fans might be bracing themselves for a similar curve ball. Wolves fans have had a fever dream of an off-season, and it just seems like too much is going our way. We live in constant fear of the old adage:

“What seems too good to be true probably is.”

With so much resting on Jimmy Butler’s shoulders this year, a season-ending injury would deal a huge blow to our 2018 playoff hopes. But before your pessimistic side gets too worked up, let’s take a step back.

Sure, Butler has had a few injuries–turf toe in 2013-2014, a thumb injury and sprained elbow in 2014-2015, a sprained knee in 2015-2016, and a heel contusion last year. But, unlike his former Chicago Bulls teammate Derrick Rose, injury has not been the story of Jimmy Butler’s career.

Throughout his six-year career, Jimmy Butler has never played fewer than 65 games in a season. Last season, he started 75 games. He might get nicked up from time to time, but altogether, Jimmy Butler is a near-40-minute-per-game leader that the Wolves should be able to count on down the stretch.

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