Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Preseason power rankings

By Ian Levy

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors laugh in the hallway before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors laugh in the hallway before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 12: Minnesota Timberwolves stands for the National Anthem during a pre-season game against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 12, 2018 at Fiserv Forum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 12: Minnesota Timberwolves stands for the National Anthem during a pre-season game against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 12, 2018 at Fiserv Forum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

. . Previous: . minnesota timberwolves. 12. team. 86

I honestly don’t know what to do with the Timberwolves, but I feel confident in saying this is a team that will be moving this year. I suppose there’s a chance that Jimmy Butler just stays, driven by a need to prove himself or whatever, he dedicates himself to making it work, even if he hates all of his teammates and they hate him, and they somehow coalesce into the best version of themselves (which could slide up above teams like the Pelicans, Nuggets or Thunder.

It seems far more likely though, that the Timberwolves are headed for a slide down the rankings. Butler could stay and the flames could simply grow higher, burning everything they’ve built over the past few years to the ground. Or, they end up trading him, all leverage lost, and wind up getting a return that lowers their ceiling considerably. Josh Richardson is a nice player but he’s not Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves might not be a playoff team if that deal goes through.