These should be happy days for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have an exciting young player in Karl Anthony Towns, a top-20 player in Jimmy Butler, they won 16 more games than the year before. AND for the first time in decades they actually made the playoffs. Yes, these should be happy times, but these are the Timberwolves, a franchise that has seldom seen happy days.
So, if you take in Thursday night’s NBA Draft and you find yourself feeling nostalgic for the many seasons the T-Wolves took part in the NBA Draft lottery... Snap out of it! As you might recall, neither the league nor Lady Luck ever seemed to smile too kindly upon the local squad.
By virtue of notching those 16 additional wins and that brief playoff appearance the T-Wolves find themselves with the 20th pick in a field of players that usually runs about twelve deep. At that point the NBA Draft quickly dissolves into either a complete crap shoot, or belongs to those like Boston’s Danny Ainge, who seems to possess a basketball IQ that allows him to distinguish diamonds in the rough from guys who were just really nice college players.
Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau needs to channel his best hoop instincts Thursday night because despite holding a later pick, draft analysts seem to feel that the Wolves can still get an impact player. This draft class is said to be unusually deep at the 2 and 3 spots, which refers to the shooting guard and small forward positions. And as luck would have it, both are positions where the Wolves could use depth if not an immediate upgrade.
Of course, that’s if the Wolves hang on to that pick. And since the NBA likes to wheel and deal in the first round more than the other major sports, a trade can’t be ruled-out. You’ll recall last June the Wolves shipped Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen, the #7 pick, to the Chicago Bulls for Butler and Justin Patton, who was taken with the 16th pick.
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That trade had been rumored for some time and weighed heavily on the familiarity Thibodeau had with Butler from the time they spent together in Chicago. As such the success of this deal will weigh heavily on Thibodeau for how it plays out. Butler was everything he was billed to be until a late-season knee injury derailed both him and any late season momentum the Timberwolves were gathering.
Butler’s knee injury relegated the Wolves to an undesirable first-round matchup with Houston and an early exit from the playoffs. After the season Thibodeau failed to get a vote of confidence from owner Glen Taylor, Karl Anthony Towns reportedly expressed his displeasure with the Wolves brass, and Butler is rumored to be unhappy with the enigma that is small forward Andrew Wiggins.
Which brings us to Thursday night.
The T-Wolves have either figured out if they can afford, both financially and in terms of team chemistry, to keep Wiggins, Butler and Towns. If they have, look for Thibodeau to take a player at the 2 or 3 spot, who has had at least two years of college experience and a game that can contribute immediately.
If however the Wolves have decided that it’s better to deal Wiggins let’s just say that’s not going to be easy. For starters they have to find a team that’s capable of taking on Wiggins’ max contract, which is just getting started. They’ll likely have to include a complimentary piece like Gorgui Dieng and they’d have to take back an equally unattractive contract to the Wiggins deal.
All of that seems unlikely, but then again, this IS the NBA, and as we’ve seen before, anything is possible, especially when a coach’s job is on the line. In my opinion, despite winning 16 more games and making the playoffs, the no-confidence vote from Glen Taylor and the public’s apathy toward Tom Thibodeau makes him vulnerable, which may prompt Thibs to gamble on another draft night deal. Stay tuned…
The Wild are a Wildcard
Meanwhile. The NHL draft takes place Friday and Saturday in Dallas and anyone claiming they know what the Minnesota Wild is going to do is guessing, at best.
After a decade of Chuck Fletcher calling the shots Paul Fenton will be in charge of the Wild’s future this weekend. Fenton has plenty of experience with the draft but he’s never been an NHL general manager before so he’s never called the shots, and we don’t know how he feels about the Wild’s current roster.
At the time of Fletcher’s dismissal team owner Craig Leipold said the roster wasn’t in need of a makeover, but rather needed only a few “tweaks,” a claim that was repeated by Fenton the day he was hired. How much of that was to appease his new boss and how much of that Fenton really believes we should have a better handle on by Sunday morning.
Like the Timberwolves, the Wild’s ability to make moves is heavily dependent on finding players whose salary cap numbers are equally important to the numbers they have produced on the ice. Fletcher was devoted to his defensive corps, a group that was smaller and highly mobile. Is Fenton equally enamored with Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin? And what about Matthew Dumba, a player with a big shot who has borne the ire of Wild fans for his risk-taking ways.
As for the forwards no one should be untouchable. On talent Mikael Granlund is as close as we come, while Zach Parise’s contract, like the similar deal bestowed on defenseman Ryan Suter make those two nearly impossible to move.
A source with the Wild told me that Fenton has had no shortage of callers this week with the name most prominently mentioned being that of forward Charlie Coyle.
For what it’s worth, and not able to grab a really strong feel for his value on the trade market, I feel the Wild should at least consider shopping goaltender Devan Dubnyk. Admittedly, Dubnyk has been one of the best acquisitions this team has ever made, but if the deal can bring either size or preferably goal scoring, it’s a move they need to consider.
Vikes had a better option for Ring of Honor
This week the Vikings announced that former head coach Dennis Green would be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in the season ahead. I had a front row seat to the Dennis Green era and I won’t say that he isn’t deserving of the honor based on his contributions to the Vikings football team. I just think there is at least one more deserving option.
Understand, my feelings on this don’t just apply to Denny Green, the second winningest coach in franchise history and a man who lead the team to the playoffs in 8 of his 10 seasons. I also felt this way when the Vikings announced that Ahmad Rashad was their candidate in 2016. Again, I loved Rashad when he was with the Vikes, and 7 seasons and 4 pro bowls are not to be taken lightly.
What are the qualifications for gaining entry into the team’s Ring of Honor? Is it based solely on your play on the field? Does your conduct enter into the equation? What about your impact on the community? I mean, it IS called the Ring of HONOR, so I think a man’s honor should enter into the equation.
That’s why I want to go on record as saying, before the campaigning starts for Keith Millard or some other notable former Viking, nobody gets into the ring before former tight end Steve Jordan, OK?
A 7th round pick out of Brown University, Jordan was considered a long shot to even make the team. Instead, Jordan went on to play 12 seasons with the Vikings, making him one of the longest tenured players in team history.
But it wasn’t just that Jordan made the team and managed to hang around. He made the Pro Bowl in 6 of his 12 seasons, more than either inductees Randy Moss of Ahmad Rashad. Oh wait, check that, Jordan actually made the Pro Bowl in 6 CONSECUTIVE seasons. My bad.
Jordan finished with 498 career catches, tops for Viking tight ends and good for 3rd place all-time among all Viking receivers, behind only Moss and Cris Carter.
Jordan finished with 6,307 yards receiving and 28 Touchdowns. If those numbers don’t impress you keep in mind that Steve played before the NFL went “pass-happy” and there were times when Jordan was one of the few bright spots on some truly miserable Viking teams. And let’s not forget that there was never any question as to Steve Jordan’s ability as a blocker.
But what about the “Honor” part? In an era where Viking players got in trouble all too frequently, Steve Jordan was always a model citizen and a model Minnesota Viking. Perhaps if the Vikings had played closer attention they would have drafted Steve’s son Cameron who has developed into a perennial All-Pro defensive end for the New Orleans Saints?
Denny Green? Okay, based on his coaching record his development of the Vikings Community Relations effort and the way he pushed his players to take part in the democratic process.
Moss? Of course. Rashad? Ah, sure.. but it never should have happened before Steve Jordan. Let’s not repeat that mistake.