Timberwolves' New Core Predicted to be on Outside of Playoff Picture

Alex Rodriguez is now the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but don’t expect him to hit a home run in his first season with the team. The Timberwolves haven’t made the playoffs since Jimmy Butler was on the team in 2018. Since then, they’ve had three straight losing seasons. According to the odds, that isn’t expected to change this year.

WynnBET is predicting the Timberwolves will miss the playoffs again, with their odds set at -900. You can bet on them to make the playoffs at +525. If Minnesota fails to make the postseason once again, it will have to make some decisions about its new core. 

The Timberwolves traded for D’Angelo Russell to pair with Karl-AnthonyTowns and Anthony Edwards. However, that core didn’t see as much time last year as the Timberwolves would’ve hoped. Those three played 687 possessions together, which is less than 10% of Minnesota’s possessions. They will have to take the next step together, but it will be hard with the Western Conference being as crowded as it is. 

Everything the Timberwolves will do is going to revolve around Towns. He averaged 24.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists last year. Although those numbers are great, it was somewhat of a down year. He had a lower field goal percentage, points per game, and three-point percentage. Although he is great offensively, he and the rest of the Wolves have more things to worry about. 

Minnesota’s main issue is figuring out how to stop teams. The Timberwolves were 29th in the league in points allowed per game, giving up 117.7 points per contest. They were also 28th in defensive rating. Russell and Towns aren’t known great defenders, which puts the Timberwolves at a disadvantage. Although Edwards is a great scorer, he isn’t a lockdown defender himself -- furthering the Wolves’ defensive issues. 

The core that is set up in Minnesota is going to have to buckle down and produce wins, or else the core might be different when next season rolls around. 

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