Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 21: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on April 21, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated 121-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 21: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on April 21, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated 121-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Timberwolves

The whole Butler thing makes this situation pretty damn impossible to figure out. Owner Glen Taylor seems very willing to trade Butler, while GM Scott Layden seems less willing. Frankly, I think Layden is right here. Butler is disgruntled, but the league knows that, and the Wolves can expect to get low-balled as a result. As such, the Wolves front office should do what they can to re-integrate Butler into the culture.

So, what’s their best-case scenario? Well, trading Butler could take them out of the playoff picture, and seriously stunt their growth. In an ideal word, they make nice with their two-way star, and he and Karl-Anthony Towns bury the hatchet, carrying the team to another playoff appearance, and maybe even the second round. The talent is there for this team to succeed, they just have to hope their two biggest stars can put aide their differences, and recognize their opportunity. Oh, and if Andrew Wiggins could stop looking like a poor man’s Rudy Gay, that’d be great.