NBA Draft Lottery: 5 reasons the Timberwolves deserve to win
By David Rouben
2: They didn’t try to lose
Of all the teams at the bottom of the pack, the Minnesota Timberwolves were the only one that didn’t try to lose. Or at least, when they did lose, they didn’t look horrible. They gave it their best effort every game and, despite finishing as the fifth worst team in the league, played as if they were fighting for a playoff spot. I mean, this is a team that beat the Warriors in their home court.
With the explosive, yet inexperienced, talent that they boast, the Timberwolves are the perfect combination of disaster and highlights. This is a team that’s had the last three first-overall picks, although one of them was only there for a cup of coffee, and will most likely have Towns join Wiggins as a Rookie of the Year.
For players just coming out of college as a one-and-done, it’s easy to see why the Timberwolves would be an appealing destination. Rather than trying to acclimatize to new surroundings, they can instead grow and develop with a young core that isn’t far off from them in terms of age.
Even if the Timberwolves add Simmons to their roster next year, making the playoffs would be a stretch, but it’s meant to be a process. But unlike Sixers fans, the Timberwolves haven’t made themselves out to be a joke and aren’t selling their fans false hope.
The main difference between Minnesota and Philadelphia is that, if the first pick lands with the Wolves, they’ll remain competitive in the loaded Western Conference, as opposed to struggling to get out of the basement in the East’s worst division.
Next: 1: They have a bright future