The Minnesota Timberwolves truly have nothing to prove this season. Or do they? Well, I suppose it depends on your perspective. A year ago, many thought that the acquisition of center Rudy Gobert would be a huge impact. And then, in the chaos of incessant injuries that followed, plus the lack of chemistry that followed with point guard D’Angelo Russell, it wasn’t.
Who's making the biggest impact this season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/n5aBs9D6aj
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 13, 2022
For that matter, it might have been, if not for the fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves lost Karl-Anthony Towns for 53 games. With that injury, it’s a wonder that the Timberwolves managed to hold on for a berth in the NBA Playoffs at all.
Still, the hypothetical would have, could have, should have scenarios that play out about the 2022-23 NBA season may or may not have better outcomes for the Timberwolves team this season. While the team faced plenty of adversity, some good things happened as a result.
Winds of change are blowing
For starters, the challenges of last season compelled the Timberwolves’ front office back to the NBA Trade market, and the exchange of PG D’Angelo Russell for PG Mike Conley Jr., SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and three future second-round draft picks was clearly a move in the right direction.
More importantly, the Timberwolves organization learned that the future of the franchise is aligning with 22-year-old shooting guard Anthony Edwards. That changes the name of the game for the Timberwolves and the outcome of the 2023-24 NBA season. With a new NBA All-Star rising in the north, the Timberwolves roster takes an entirely new direction this year.
So this is a brand new season, and the trials and tribulations from last season are just water under the bridge. But rather than let those costly lessons drift away, the Timberwolves have taken plenty of steps to ensure that past mistakes are examined, and the lessons that were present were learned and employed in constructing a far better version of the Timberwolves roster. So who will benefit most?
Here are three reasons why we believe the greatest positive impact on the Timberwolves roster will be none other than veteran All-Star center Rudy Gobert: