Writing the Pine

PROJECTED RECORD: 17-65
MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER Al Jefferson
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jonny Flynn
STRENGTHS: Starting Frontcourt, Rebounding
WEAKNESSES: Youth, Chemistry, Defense, Depth

The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off one of the more surprising trades this offseason when he dealt Randy Foye and Mike Miller for the #5 pick and a few players who won’t make much of a difference this season. The T-Wolves then made another surprising move when they drafted point guards Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn back-to-back. It seemed like new GM David Kahn wanted to make a splash and that he did. Kahn had one of the most controversial drafts in recent memory and it’s easy to see why. Using both your lottery picks to draft two players at the same position is completely counter-intuitive. It’s so mind-boggling I’m having trouble finding the words to explain why. It just defies logic. You just don’t do it, especially because they can’t play on the floor together. Both guys need the ball in their hands to make things happen. Flynn is a fearless attacker, ready to take on any man, big or small, that stands between him and the basket. Rubio is a playmaker that dribbles around and magically makes things happen for his teammates. And don’t forget that defensively, it’d be a nightmare for the Timberwolves. No way could either guy guard the likes of a Kobe or even someone like Eric Gordon.

Of course all of this is moot since Rubio decided to stay in Spain for at least another two years. Kahn signed Ramon Sessions to provide some temporary stability at the point guard spot while Flynn goes through his growing pains. I’m not really a big fan of that signing either, however. Sessions is a nice player but you got to let Flynn learn. (If Flynn doesn’t start from day 1 new head coach Kurt Rambis should be canned after his first game.  Actually I don’t think he’ll last two seasons.) He’s already one of the toughest guys in the NBA and from what I’ve seen of him, he’s not the type to just lounge around and play to collect his checks. Dude wants to get better. Dude wants to make his teammates better. Dude flat out wants to win. I guarantee he’ll be as beloved as Kevin Garnett was in ‘Sota for his actions on AND off the court. He’s already begun reaching out to his new community and he’ll continue to embrace them throughout his time there. Flynn is my dark horse for Rookie of the Year and I fully expect a 14 point, 6 assist per game season from him (with a bunch of turnovers though). He’s not the greatest shooter or passer, but he just puts points on the scoreboard whether he’s the one doing the scoring or setting his teammates up to score.

While Flynn and Sessions are holding down the point guard spot, there’s not much else with them in the backcourt. Damien Wilkins as the starting 2-guard? Please. He’ll probably begin the season as the starter but find himself on the bench towards the middle of the season. Kahn used his fourth first-round pick on the sweet-shooting Wayne Ellington (the third was used on Ty Lawson who was subsequently traded to Denver). I’ve watched just about every game Ellington has ever played at North Carolina and he’s got potential, but I’ve always expected more out of the former #1 high-school shooting guard prospect. He has every kind of shot in his arsenal and has one of the purest strokes, but he’s still rather streaky. Someone with his skills should be more consistent with his shot but when he’s on, there’s no stopping him. Just look at his box scores for the second half of his final season at Carolina. He absolutely tore it up. Remember, on a team full of NBA prospects that included Tyler Hansbrough, Lawson, Danny Green, and likely top-5 pick Ed Davis, Ellington was the one who was voted Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. Still, he doesn’t have all the tools yet to be a productive player in the NBA. Despite testing rather well at the NBA Draft Combine, he never really showed great athleticism in college. He had trouble getting to the hoop and when he did, he would often settle for soft lay ups and consequently get blocked all the time. But like I said, he did test well before the draft and he also absolutely posterized Antawn Jamison in the North Carolina alumni game a few weeks back so maybe Ellington can add another dimension to his game now. I can go on and on about Weezy (as the Carolina faithful like to call him) but as far as this season goes, I don’t expect much out of him.

The frontcourt is where the strength of this T-Wolves team is. Al Jefferson is an absolute stud and an automatic 20 and 10, but he’s coming off a torn ACL that he suffered last season. It’ll be crucial to Minnesota’s chances of success not just this season but for the next few years for Big Al to regain his form. Fortunately he didn’t gain too many pounds from hopping around on only one leg thanks to Subway. He should be good to go once the season rolls around so make sure to keep an eye out on him.

Joining him up front will be Kevin Love. Love, inexplicably left off the Rookie-Sophomore Game roster and hardly even considered for the All-Rookie First Team, was quite possibly the most productive rookie last year. He averaged 9.1 rebounds per game last year in only 25.1 minutes of play and led the entire league in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes. The former UCLA product could easily average 20 and 15 if given the minutes but questions abound about his athleticism and defense. He is a big boy who is a load to push around on the block but as the power forwards in the league have become more and more athletic, we’ll have to see if Love can keep up with them. There is no question he can abuse them on the offensive end with his combination of size and skill (he’s got a wide array of post moves and he’ll even make some three-pointers this year) but can he guard anybody on defense? He’ll set out this season to show that he can but that’s something I’ll have to see with my own eyes.

As for the rest of the frontcourt, well there’s not much. Ryan Gomes is a nice offensive player who can score in a variety of ways but is a terrible defender who will get burned repeatedly by almost every other small forward in the league. Corey Brewer (who himself is still recovering from a torn ACL) is a nice defensive player but can be shut down by almost every other small forward in the league. It’s too bad they can’t combine forces to make one player because Coryan Brewmes would be one damn good player. The rest of the big men will have as much of an impact as I will on that team. If Oleksiv Pecherov and Ryan Hollins combine to average five points and five rebounds a game, I’ll donate $50 to Hometown Hero’s eating fund.

The Timberwolves have some great young players. But honestly, I’m not sure of the plan David Kahn has for the team. Something tells me he is not done surprising us and I’m curious to find out what other moves he has in store and what will ultimately come from this Rubio situation. As for this year, expect a lot of growing pains and another long season. Fortunately for T-Wolves fans, it’ll be a loaded draft next year so the team will be able to add another elite talent.