Minnesota Timberwolves Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the

game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests

that players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I

have decided to defy those odds. 

In 1989, the NBA returned to the Twin Cities for the first time since

Minneapolis Lakers left for Los Angeles in 1960. One year earlier,

the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic joined the NBA as expansion

teams. The Charlotte Hornets also entered the NBA with the

Timberwolves. The name Timberwolves was established because

Minnesota is home to the largest population of Timberwolves. 

Aside from making the playoffs for eight consecutive years from

1995-2004, success has been minimal for the franchise. Those

years were highlighted by the greatness of future Hall of Famer

Kevin Garnett. 

The closest the franchise came to winning an NBA title was 2003-

2004 when it reached the Western Conference finals before losing

to the Los Angeles Lakers. The previous seven playoff appearances

were first round exits. The franchise returned to the postseason in

2017-2018, losing to the Houston Rockets in the first round. 

Today, I put together a Timberwolves Dream Team. There are some

rigid criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to

have played for the Jazz for a minimum of four seasons -- no

exceptions. 

Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs

to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is

all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is

the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The

number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity

also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare

eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Timberwolves during a season of being a contender

does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the

Timberwolves during a bad season, of which there have been

many, is no deterrent to getting a spot on this team. Winning or

losing eras, all high-level performers get considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,

after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for

the franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team,

don’t just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you

would remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the

list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starters

Point guard: Ricky Rubio

Rubio became the tenth Spanish born player in NBA history.

Rubio, who is now a member of the Phoenix Suns after two

seasons with the Utah Jazz, spent five seasons with the

Timberwolves. Rubio was similar to a magician when he

passed the ball.  Rubio is second in franchise history with

2,991 assists.

Though Rubio never learned any All-Star recognition in his

time with the Timberwolves, he was NBA All-Rookie first team

in 2012. In a Timberwolves uniform, he averaged 10.3 points,

8.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. 

Shooting guard: Anthony Peeler

Peeler is essentially a starter on this team by default in that he

was the best one that played at least four years with the

franchise. Peeler played six seasons for the Timberwolves and

was a very good pure shooter. He was a solid mid-range shooter

and connected on 37% of his three pointers.

During his time with the franchise, Peeler averaged 9.6 points,

2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Peeler is third in franchise history

with 465 career 3-pointers in a Timberwolves uniform. He is also

in the Top 10 and a handful of other categories in franchise

history.

Small forward: Andrew Wiggins

Wiggins is now a Golden State Warrior but his five and a half

seasons with the Timberwolves or very impactful ones. Wiggins

is in the franchise record books and numerous categories.

Wiggins was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2015  and was NBA

All Rookie first team that same season. In a Timberwolves uniform,

Wiggins averaged 19 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0

steal. He shot 47.6% from the field.

Power forward: Kevin Garnett

Garnett, who was nicknamed “The Big Ticket,” entered the NBA in

1995, by which time the Timberwolves had been an NBA franchise

for six seasons. Garnett, however, was the franchise's first great

player. After 12 seasons with the franchise, he was traded to the

Boston Celtics but his impact on the Timberwolves is unmistakable.

Garnett is the franchise leader and numerous offensive and

defensive categories.

Garnett is slated to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

As a Timberwolve, he averaged 19.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3

assists. Garnett was the NBA MVP in 2004. He is a 15-time All-Star,

NBA All-Star game MVP in 2003, nine-time All NBA (four as a first-

teamer) and four time rebounding champion. 

Center: Karl Anthony-Towns

Towns recently completed his fifth NBA season, all with the

Timberwolves. Though he can be an enigma at times, Towns has

been remarkably productive. He has the potential to be even more

dominant. Towns is already among the franchise leader in career

offensive and defensive rebounds.

Towns was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2016 and was also NBA

All-Rookie first team. He Towns is a two-time All-Star and was All

NBA third team in 2018. Towns holds a career average of 22.7

points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists along with 1.5 blocks.

Bench (alphabetical order)

Terrell Brandon: Brandon played four seasons with the

Timberwolves and though he did not earn any All Star recognition

in that time, he was key along with Garnett helping the franchise

get their first 50-win season in 1999-2000. Brandon played for three

different teams and while with the Timberwolves he averaged 15.6

points and 8.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. 

Gorgui Dieng: Dieng is now a member of the Memphis Grizzlies but

spent his first seven seasons with the Timberwolves. Dieng was an

NBA All-Rookie second team in 2014. While with the Timberwolves,

he averaged 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. 

Tom Gugliotta:

The Timberwolves acquired Gugliotta in a midseason trade from the

Golden State Warriors and 1994-1995. Gugliotta played for seven

different teams but his best seasons were with the Timberwolves

specifically when he averaged over 20 points a game in back-to-

back seasons. In a Timberwolves uniform, Gugliotta averaged 18.2

points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Christian Laettner: Though Laettner is primarily known for his

college career at Duke University, he had a solid but not spectacular

NBA career. Laettner was traded midway through his fourth season

with the Timberwolves. He made the NBA All-Rookie team in 1992.

In a Timberwolves uniform, Laettner averaged 17.2 points 8.1

rebounds 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks. 

Kevin Love: Love is known primarily for his role as a running mate

to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, He was a dominant

player in his time with the Timberwolves from 2008-2014. He played

a mixture of power forward and center but his style of play was a

departure from the traditional definition of the position. Love's

perimeter shooting ability stretched out defenses. He was an All-Star

on two occasions with the Timberwolves and was the NBA's most

improved player in 2011. He led the NBA in rebounds in 2011. In

his time with the Timberwolves he averaged 19.2 points and 12.2

rebounds per game. 

Sam Mitchell: Mitchell deserves a spot on this team because he

was an original Timberwolve. Other than Garnett, no player has

played more games in franchise history then Mitchell. He was a

solid mid-range shooter who averaged 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds

per contest. For his career, Mitchell connected on 45% of his field-

goal attempts. 

Nikola Pekovic: The native of Yugoslavia spent all six of his NBA

seasons with the Timberwolves. While he never earned any All-

Star recognition, he had a solid career in Minnesota. He averaged

12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. 

Joe Smith: Smith was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft

by the Golden State Warriors. Smith enjoyed a long NBA career at

16 years and he played for 11 different teams. Four of those

seasons were spent with the Timberwolves, where he had some

productive years alongside Garnett. In a Timberwolves uniform,

Smith averaged 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Wally Szcerbiak: Szczerbiak enjoyed seven productive seasons

with the Timberwolves, including the franchise’s first 50 win season

in 1999-2000 and playing a significant role in reaching the Western

Conference Finals in 2004. Szczerbiak was an All-Star in 2002

and NBA All-Rookie first team in 2000. As a Timerwolve, Szcerbiak

averaged 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. 

Doug West:

West played 10 years with the Timberwolves and was one of the

franchise’s original players. West was a solid all-around player who

could score as well as defend. As a Timberwolve, West averaged

10.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game. 

Head coach: Flip Saunders

Saunders died in 2015 from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma but his legacy

with the franchise remains cemented. The Timberwolves have

been through 13 head coaches in their 31 years of existence and

Saunders is the only one to fashion a record North of .500. In his

career with the Timberwolves, Saunders guided the franchise to

427 career wins and also a few milestones. He led the franchise

to its first winning season, its first 50 win season, and it's only trip

to the Western Conference Finals. 

Team: 2003-2004

This team gets the nod and it's not even close. This version of

the Timberwolves won a franchise-best 58 games and reached

the conference finals, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers. On the

way to that point, the Timberwolves dispatched the Denver

Nuggets in five games and outlasted the Sacramento Kings in

seven. Garnett was the NBA MVP. Sam Cassell and Szczerbiak

also each had solid seasons and a midseason acquisition of

Latrell Sprewell also buoyed the Timberwolves. The franchise

would not make the playoffs again until 2018.