Alex Bader
Another trade deadline has come and gone in the NBA. It had the classic 'WOJ Bomb' with the Harden and Ben Simmons deal, several team trades, small trades, and more. However, one thing that this deadline didn't have, was the Minnesota Timberwolves making a move.
In years past, the Wolves had made trades leading up to the deadline, on the deadline day, and they have even made the giant 'WOJ Bomb' trades with the most recent being the Wiggins and DLO trade.
Why no trades? Because they didn't need to force anything.
According to the Athletic's Timberwolves beat reporter, Jon Krawczynski, "A lot of discussions, but never could land on the right fit."
BADER'S TAKE
This year is different.
They have shown that on the court and now they are showing it in the front office as well. There was no need to force a trade that wouldn't really make the team any better and then you have the risk of ruining chemistry.
This team has great chemistry, some of the best chemistry in recent Timberwolves seasons. They have the talent in Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russel, and Anthony Edwards to scare any team on any given night. Most importantly, they have the compete X-factor. This team will compete on any night and they will battle until the end.
They might have had poor games and maybe will in the future, but they are still one of the most competitive Wolves teams in the Towns era.
The decision to stay put also gives the guys like Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Jaylen Nowell, and Josh Okogie further time to develop their game in what has become a positive locker room environment. By being on a team that is contending for the playoffs it will also force the best from everyone and force them to improve if they want to make any sort of run at the playoffs this season.
They have the tools already to make a run at the playoffs and possibly a run in the playoffs. Minnesota is in a great position currently.
The Wolves are led by their big man, KAT. He is leading the team in points (24.3), rebounds (9.5), and blocks (1.2). He is averaging 81.7% from the free-throw line (2nd best on the team), 52.1% from the field (3rd), 40.6% from the three-point line(2nd), and four assists a game (3rd).
ANT is averaging 22 points a game and DLO is averaging 19 points a game. They are getting help from their bench too.
When you look at this team compared to past Timberwolves teams, they are exceptionally better.
They went 23-49 last year! They already have more wins than they did last year. They went 19-45 in 2019-20. In the 2018-19 season, they went 36-46. This year is the best year since arguably the Butler year when they went 47-35 and lost in the first round to Houston.
Even that year was tainted with drama and behind-the-scenes action with Butler, Wiggins, Thibs, and KAT.
They did not nearly have the same type of chemistry that this group has now. Chemistry and hunger are what matter when it gets late in the season. This team has both.
So there was no need to make a stupid trade just to make a trade and for that, I applaud the front office of the Timberwolves.
What's Next:
The Wolves have been red hot recently. However, they lost the rematch to the Sacramento Kings on the second night of the back-to-backs mainly due to poor defense and fatigue. They have the day off and then it is right back to work against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago.
Minnesota will need to be much better on defense to stop the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Zach Lavine. They cannot just double up either because guys like Ayo Dosunmu and Alex Caruso can make teams pay for leaving them open.
Every guy will need to play great Defense because the Wolves do not have the talent to get into a shooting match, they will lose.
The Bulls are 34-21 overall and 19-8 at home. DeRozan is averaging 27.4 points a game and Lavine is averaging 24.9 points. They have three other guys averaging double digits; Vucevic (17.5 points), Ball (13), and White (12.9).
Minnesota needs to avoid a shootout by any means and play great defense. If they do that and get great scoring performances from their big 3 then maybe Minnesota has a chance at the upset.
Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. tip-off at 7:00 p. m. central time
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