Ranking the 15 worst Timberwolves starters of the Kevin Garnett Era
By Bret Stuter
II: C Michael Olowokandi (2005-06)
GS 24 | 23.5 MPG | 6.0 PPG | 0.0 3P% | 5.6 RPG | 0.5 APG | 0.6 SPG | 0.8 BPG
Okay, this is the third time that Michael Olowokandi appears on the list of All-Time 15 Worst Starters of the Kevin Garnett era. So what makes this season the worst of the bunch? Well, it was so bad that before the season ended, the Timberwolves decided to trade Olowokandi, other players, and a 2009 first-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics for four players and two second-round picks.
The Kandi Man averaged more minutes than his 2003-04 season, but his production declined across the board. While speculating, I have to believe that was the final straw, and the team began to seek avenues to part ways with the 7-foot-0 center.
While I do not fault the Minnesota Timberwolves for rolling the dice on an accomplished NBA center of Michael Olowokandi’s credentials prior to signing with the Timberwolves, it was painfully obvious that the Timberwolves’ front office presumed that he would perform just as well, if not better, on the Timberwolves roster than he had with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The result of that error in judgment meant that the Timberwolves, and the final years of Kevin Garnett with the Timberwolves, would carry Olowokandi beyond his value.