2 near fatal flaws in Minnesota Timberwolves – Rudy Gobert trade
By Bret Stuter
Too much star power on the Timberwolves’ roster?
The Minnesota Timberwolves have invested in NBA stars. In fact, considering the fact that the NBA considers the Timberwolves to be a small-market NBA franchise, the fact that this team boasts so many All-Stars on the roster is quite impressive. But for now, the team is a bit like oil and vinegar.
The Timberwolves team has star power, certainly. The plays that are made by the likes of power forward Karl-Anthony Towns and shooting guard Anthony Edwards are truly special. They have the ability to lead by example, to will the outcome of the game simply by being at the top of their game and outshining their competition. But Timberwolves fans know how easily Karl-Anthony Towns can be frustrated in a game. If he plays poorly or gets fatigued, his play suffers dramatically. He can be rattled.
Call them the white-collar tier.
Hulk out
The reason that Minnesota Timberwolves loved the play of guard Patrick Beverley is his energy, his fierce competitiveness, his unshakable confidence, and the fact that an opponent can score 30 points on him, but Beverley will keep trash-talking and coming back and will celebrate any victory he has in that game along the way. That is the blue-collar tier of the Timberwolves, and Rudy Gobert, much to my surprise, is cut from the same cord of wood. So too is Jimmy Butler.
They never seem to get rattled.
The Timberwolves have struggled to blend that white-collar tier with that blue-collar tier on this roster. Many of the players have gotten so comfortable sitting back and simply filling in the cracks left behind by KAT or A1 that they are not familiar with the need to fight and create on their own.