Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 things to watch for in season opener

By Ben Beecken

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 31: Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

How will Towns and Wiggins start the season?

Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins remain the future of the Timberwolves, and once a Jimmy Butler trade is completed then they’ll be relied on fully.

It’s imperative that the duo gets off to a strong start. For his part, Towns was outstanding during the preseason and is already an All-Star who simply needs to up his game on the defensive end of the floor and bring a bit more consistency on offense.

Wiggins had a poor preseason and clearly regressed last year. He will likely revert back to the second scoring option once a Butler trade is commenced, pending who else comes back in the eventual trade.

The Butler situation has obviously weighed on both Towns and Wiggins, and who could blame them. Now that they both have their massive contract extensions and are in Minnesota for the next several years, it’s fair for them to want a resolution to the Butler situation as soon as possible.

While the Wolves’ playoff chances plummet as soon as Butler is traded, let’s not forget that Towns was a 22-year-old All-Star last year and is a top-20 player. One more mini-jump should be enough to put him in the conversation as the type of player that could drag his team to a playoff berth; if that jump happens this year than a 45-plus win season remains on the table.

Wiggins’ potential progress is certainly more nebulous, and is, unfortunately a long shot. But time will tell, and perhaps the Butler situation will light a fire under Wiggins and we’ll see the type of lock-down defender and dynamic slasher on offense that the fifth-year (!) wing is capable of being.

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