Minnesota Timberwolves Off-Season Thread... Flip dropping clues on the radio. - Page 4

Minnesota Run

Tonight the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's a early season meeting that could very well serve to be a preview of a playoff series matchup. The Thunder seem to be the class of the Western Conference, on their way to earning the number one seed in the entire conference through the brilliance of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Timberwolves, who have been dealing with injuries before the season even began may sneak their way into the playoffs after spending years toiling in the bottom of the Western Conference.

It's easy to forget that it was not that long ago the Thunder were in the shoes of the Timberwolves. They did after all have to walk before they could run. The franchise managed to play their way into the high lottery by way of finishing the 2007-2009 seasons with bottom five league records. However unlike the Timberwolves under general manager David Kahn, the Thunder (with a little luck) hit home runs on all three lottery draft picks with Durant, Westbrook and the now Houston Rocket James Harden. Since being hired as the general manager of the Timberwolves in 2009, Kahn has has four cracks at high lottery draft picks. Kahn hit a home run with Rubio, but has otherwise struck out the other three times up to this point. Those three strike outs include Jonny Flynn, Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams.

Flynn is currently out of the NBA, reportedly in Australia trying to revive his career after three forgettable seasons with the Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers. He turned the ball over frequently, could not shoot for a scoring point guard and to top things off was a defensive liability. Flynn was picked ahead of guards Steph Curry and DeMar DeRozan, who both could have theoretically fit in with Love and Rubio. Johnson may not be far behind his Syracuse alum, as he is rotting at the end of the bench for the Phoenix Suns. Johnson was billed as a ready to contribute swingman coming out of Syracuse. But he didn't exhibit any consistent shooting in his two seasons in Minnesota (39/33/69 from the field, three point line and free throw line), nor much ball handling skills which is a problem as he was miscast as a shooting guard. Perimeter players drafted after Johnson include Gordon Hayward and Paul George. Williams has been inconsistent and unreliable in his young career, to the point that he may be on the trade block.

For franchises located in small markets like Oklahoma City and Minnesota that will have trouble attracting free agents, high lottery draft picks are a vital part in building a good team. They cannot afford to strike out so badly on high lottery draft picks. It's not that end all be all in building a good team, but it's pretty close. Some teams can get away with mistakes in the high lottery like the Memphis Grizzlies, but they prove to be the exception more than the rule. So here we are, with the Thunder owning the best record in the entire league in large part to their fortunes in the high lottery and the Timberwolves competing for a playoff spot because they couldn't even get average play out of their lottery draft selections under Kahn. Just keep that in mind that when you are watching Love gobble a rebound that results in a Rubio led fast break. Love and Rubio could have had Curry and George running with them tonight and in a deep playoff run.

Originally Posted by Buc Em 

So Rubio is playing tonight?