2007 NBA Season Preview - Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 32-50 (.390); 4^th in Northwest Division
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): n/a
Coach (Record): Randy Wittman, 2^nd season (12-30 last season; hired in January 2007), 4^th season overall
Key Additions: SG/SF Corey Brewer (draft; 1^st round, 7^th overall); PF Al Jefferson (trade; Boston); PG Sebastian Telfair (trade; Boston); PF/C Juwan Howard (trade; Houston); F/C Theo Ratliff (trade; Boston); F Ryan Gomes (trade; Boston); SG Gerald Green (trade; Boston); G Greg Buckner (trade; Dallas)
Key Losses: PF Kevin Garnett (trade; Boston); PG Mike James (trade; Houston); G/F Trenton Hassell (trade; Dallas)

While the Timberwolves have re-vamped their entire roster and brought in a plethora of new faces, it's the one fact that is no longer there that really resonates with the team. Kevin Garnett, the face of the franchise since being selected in the draft back in 1995, has moved on and received his trade from Minnesota. Now, with a bunch of talented-but-unproven players they received in return, the Timberwolves look to make some drastic improvement at all phases of the game. They could very well be one of the youngest teams in the league; veterans are peppered on the roster, but lightly and with some minimal roles. The job will be simple for the Timberwolves; compete night in and night out, get better, and show the fans that you are committed to building a winner again without the centerpiece they've all grown to love.

But they say "it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." We'll see how true this saying is in terms of franchise players, because Garnett had that kind of effect on the entire franchise. Who will take the lead and jump into the open void left by Garnett's trade? Will anyone actually be able to step up and begin to even try to fill that role? Even if they are able to find someone to replace Garnett in the locker room as a leader, will someone be able to produce the double-double that Garnett gave the team nightly? Will the young players like Al Jefferson, Randy Foye, and Corey Brewer have the desired effect for the T'Wolves?