When I examined the trade deadline outlook for the five Northwest teams earlier this week, I identified the Timberwolves as the only club that clearly looked like a seller. However, it sounds like the Wolves aren’t ready to sell off pieces from this year’s roster quite yet. Owner Glen Taylor tells Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press that his club remains focused on trying to earn a playoff spot this season.
“We’re all of the same mind, to get in, get the experience,” Taylor said. “Just the winning of games to try to get there is worth it. Our guys can’t see anything positive about losing games. They must win games, and then if we can win enough to get into the playoffs, that in and of itself would be a major step for our young players.”
After getting off to a very slow start this season, the Wolves have played better as of late, posting an 11-9 record in their last 20 games. However, the team is still just 22-35 overall, 13th in the Western Conference, with five teams ahead in the race for the No. 8 seed. When Zach LaVine went down with a torn ACL earlier this month, it seemed to make sense for the Wolves to shift their focus to their future, but management and ownership still aims to make a push this year.
Although Taylor said he’s disappointed with the team’s record so far, he tells Krawczynski that he’s happy with head coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden, and remains confident in the club’s prospects over the long run. He also doesn’t want to mortgage the Wolves’ future for a short-term upgrade.
“I know the guys will look at other alternatives, but I also know them well enough that they aren’t going to do something foolish,” Taylor said. “They aren’t going to do something that would hurt the team in the long run just to make us look good in the short run. This is a long-run game for all of us.”
In Krawczynski’s view, Minnesota’s roster could use a “strong, veteran, defensive-minded presence” to help lead the locker room and stabilize a young roster. The Wolves have six more days until the deadline to see if they can add that sort of player to their roster without sacrificing a long-term asset.
I think a trade for Jimmy Butler makes sense now” trade Dunn & Lavine n let Tyus Jones get some minutes behind Rubio! would be a great fit in Minnesota
You can’t trade Zach Lavine…. He’s hurt.
You can trade injured players. That’s just a 2K rule
lol that wouldnt get ya jimmy butler anyway
“Our guys can’t see anything positive about losing games. ”
If that’s the case, get better coaches and different players.
To improve, you must learn from losing. You must see positives and negatives in your performance. Jordan didn’t make varsity his soph year, lost for years with the Bulls. You can find similar cases in every sport for every great star and team.
This is the almost assuredly the Warrior’s year. Let’s not get carried away with the Wolves really winning anything but a few token games this year. With the new CBA in place take advantage of it’s rules and let teams, like GS, get hit hard this summer by the max salaries and such.
I cant wait for the trade deadline.i think it could be a busy 1 this year.so many different names have been floating around out there,and looking at the standings,most teams still have legit chances.
Minnesota is 13th in the west,but are just 3.5 back from being 8th.
In the east Ny is 12th and just 4 back from 8th.
You can make an argument for just about every team beneath Denver having a shot at that 8 seed. Twolves have as good of a chance as any of them really.
Trade for D.Rose….Thibs can coach him back to Allstar caliber…..