7 People who turned their backs on the Timberwolves
By Austin McGee
4. Tom Gugliotta
Former All-Star Tom Gugliotta came to Minnesota in his age 25-year season. The sixth overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, Gugliotta had a solid start to his career before being traded twice in his third professional season.
The NC State alum's play elevated when he came to Minnesota. In his first full season with the Wolves, Gugliotta averaged 16.2 points as the starting power forward. In his second full season, Gugliotta's averages increased to 20.6 points and a career-high 4.1 assists per game. That season, Gugliotta made his one and only All-Star appearance.
In the forward's last season as a member of the Timberwolves, he once again averaged 20-plus points per game and knocked more than 50 percent of his field goal attempts for the only time in his career.
After trading up-and-coming, yet disruptive forward Laettner midway through the 1995-96 season, Gugliotta was primed to take on a leading role in Minnesota. Paired with youngsters, Stephon Marbury and Garnett, the Wolves possessed an impressive triumvirate.
The star trio's break up initiated in 1998, as Gugliotta became the first domino to fall. Despite being offered a seven-year, $86.7 million deal, the All-Star forward spurned the Wolves and instead signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns.
Gugliotta accepted a more modest offer from Phoenix. He agreed to a six-year, $58.5 million deal. The Wolves forward declined the Wolves offer partially because of his disdain for Marbury. Suns' owner, Jerry Colangelo, alluded to Gugliotta's preference to play with Pheonix point guard Jason Kidd instead of Marbury.
At the time, it appeared as if the Wolves whiffed on a foundational piece. However, Gugliotta was never the same once he left Minnesota. In part, because of a near-death experience he suffered in 1999, the once-impressive forward appeared in only 327 more regular season contests.