Latest Minnesota Timberwolves News

    Minnesota Timberwolves Franchise Information

    Have a read on below at some quick stats and facts on the Minnesota Timberwolves to get you started: 

    Established:1989
    Stadium:Target Center  
    Colours:Midnight blue, aurora green, lake blue, moonlight grey & frost white
    Hall of Famers:Kevin Garnett
    Hall of Fame Coaches:None
    Rivals:Milwaukee Bucks & Cleveland Cavaliers
    Legends:Kevin Garnett, Malik Sealey, Wally Szczerbiak & Flip Saunders
    Retired Numbers:2
    Conference: Western Conference
    Division:Northwest Division
    NBA Championships:None

    Minnesota Timberwolves History

    In 1987, Minnesota was one of four cities granted an expansion team in the NBA. Minnesota was a town with a rich basketball history being home of the Minneapolis Lakers, now Los Angeles Lakers, from 1947-1960, and also two teams in the American Basketball Association, before it was absorbed by the NBA. 

    Minnesota city council members had to vote between Timberwolves and Polars, with Timberwolves winning easily and becoming the name of the franchise, fitting as Minnesota is home to the largest population of timberwolves in the mainland United States. 

    Like all start-up teams, the Timberwolves struggled early on, however their 22-60 record in the 1989-90 season was better than the first year record of the three other teams they joined the league with. 

    In 1994 the team was nearly sold to a group from New Orleans, which would have moved the Timberwolves down south, but this move was stopped by NBA Owners and current owner Glen Taylor bought the team instead. 

    From the 1989-90 to 1994-95 seasons the Timberwolves best record was 29-53 and they never finished better than 11th in the Western Conference. However things would change after the 1995 offseason. 

    The Timberwolves hired Flip Saunders as head coach and drafted Kevin Garnett with the 5th pick in the draft, who became Minnesota’s go to guy in his first season. The Wolves won five more games than the previous season before adding Stephon Marbury in the 1996 draft.

    The 1996-97 season saw a big improvement for the team. Garnett and newly acquired Tom Gugliotta became Minnesota’s first All Stars, and along with Marbury helped the Timberwolves make the playoffs for the first time, finishing with a 40-42 record. 

    Minnesota was swept by the Rockets in the first round, but the 1996-97 season showed plenty of promise for this young up and coming team. Garnett and Marbury established themselves as young stars of the NBA in the 1997-98 season, helping the Timberwolves to their first winning record, 45-37, making the playoffs for the second straight year. 

    Minnesota would win their first ever playoff game against the Seattle Supersonics and have a 2-1 series lead before losing 3-2. With Garnett signing one of the biggest contracts in the NBA at the time in 1997, the Timberwolves let Gugliotta leave the team, hoping to sign Marbury to a big long-term contract. 

    This plan failed as Marbury, who had the nickname of Starbury, wanted to be the lead man on a team and requested a trade to a bigger market franchise. The Wolves would go on to make the playoffs but get eliminated in the first round the following five seasons after Marbury’s exit, led by Garnett and 1999 draft pick Wally Szczerbiak. 

    This was highlighted by 50 win seasons in the 1999-00, 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, with Garnett winning the 2003 All Star Game MVP. In 2000 it was found that the Timberwolves were making illegal deals and contracts with highly sought after free agent Joe Smith. 

    The league came down hard on Minnesota, handing the team a $3.5M fine and taking away their first round picks in the 2001, 2002 and 2004 drafts. This seriously hurt the Timberwolves chances of winning at the time and also in the future, with no young growth to help veterans Garnett and Szczerbiak. 

    After seven straight first round defeats in the playoffs, the Timberwolves were desperate to get further, bringing in veterans Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and sharpshooter Fred Hoiberg via trade or free agency. 

    Szczerbiak would only play 28 games in that 2003-04 season, but Garnett would  earn MVP honours while leading the team to the 1-seed in the Western Conference with a 58-24 record, all firsts for the Timberwolves franchise. 

    Minnesota won their first ever playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, before defeating the Sacramento Kings 4-3 in the second round. During game 7, Sam Cassell, who was named an All Star that season, injured his groin and was unable to play significant minutes in the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

    The Timberwolves ended up losing the series 4-2, with coaches of both teams saying that, if healthy, Minnesota would have likely won. The 2004-05 season started with mainly the same team as the year before, however some of their stars wanted bigger contracts and became unhappy with the franchise, causing the team to have a disappointing start to the year. 

    This resulted in the firing of legendary coach Flip Sauders, and the team went on to miss the playoffs for the first team in nine seasons. Minnesota would miss the playoffs again in the 2005-06 season, trading away some of their ageing veterans, Cassell and Szczerbiak.

    The Timberwolves had the sixth pick in the 2006 draft and selected Brandon Roy, who would go on to win Rookie of the Year, however the Timberwolves traded him to Portland on draft night, never getting to experience his high scoring prowess. 

    After their third straight season of missing the playoffs, in 2007 Minnesota traded Garnett to the Boston Celtics for five players and two first-round draft picks, an NBA record return for a single player up until 2019. 

    The Minnesota were the youngest team in the league after Garnett’s departure, and it showed in their performance, winning just 22, 24, 15 and 17 games in the following four seasons. There was one standout and glimmer of hope for the Timberwolves, despite this terrible on court performance, Kevin Love, whom they traded for after he was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008. 

    In 2010, Love had 31 points and 31 rebounds, a franchise record for boards. Love would go on to be an All Star in the 2010-11 season and have 53 consecutive double doubles, the most since the NBA-ABA merger. Despite Love’s dominance, the Timberwolves finished with the worst record in the NBA that season. 

    The 2011-12 season saw promise as Love was dominating with the help of Spanish passing phenom Ricky Rubio, starting 17-17, but a fall from Rubio which tore his ACL ended his season and the Timberwolves with it. 

    Minnesota were never going to be better than mediocre with Love as their focal point and after their 10th straight season of missing the playoffs, their 7th since Garnett left, the Timberwolves traded Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first pick in the 2014 draft, Andrew Wiggins, among other pieces. 

    Flip Saunders was reinstated as head coach, hoping to guide the young Timberwolves to the playoffs, as he had in his first time with the team. The Timberwolves instead finished with a 16-66 record, leaving them with the first pick in the 2015 draft, where they selected Kentucky centre Karl-Anthony Towns. 

    Flip Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and unfortunately passed on October 25, 2015. Tom Thibodeau was named as coach in 2016 and after what was now their 13th straight season missing the playoffs, in 2017 the Timberwolves traded some of their young stars, Zach Lavine and Kris Dunn, for Jimmy Butler. 

    Butler would lead the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance since 2004, but they were eliminated in the first round. Jimmy Butler had a tough love style of leadership that didn’t sit well with both Wiggins and Towns, which led to Butler being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for a combination of picks and players before the 2018-19 season.

    The Timberwolves have had two losing seasons since the Butler trade, finishing 19-45 in the COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season. During the season the Timberwolves traded Wiggins for All Star point guard and Towns’ friend D’Angelo Russell, hoping the pairing of the young stars, Russell and Towns, will allow them to improve and compete for years to come. 

    The Timberwolves were the only team from the Northwest division to not make the playoffs in the 2019-20 season. Minnesota’s 19-45 record was third worst in the league, giving them the equal highest chance (14%) of winning the first pick in the NBA Draft, which they won! 

    The Timberwolves drafted Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick, forming an offensive talented trio, alongside Towns and Russell. Unfortunately for Minnesota, they didn’t get the opportunity to play all three for enough games for it to matter, with both Towns and Russell missing time with injury throughout the season. 

    Given they were sending their first round pick to the Warriors if it fell out of the top four, Minnesota won too many meaningless games towards the end of the regular season. This resulted in them finishing with the sixth worst record, after having the second-worst with just weeks to go, and receiving the seventh pick, which was sent to Golden State.

    For a team that struggles to make it close to postseason contention and is still rebuilding, having no draft picks in the 2021 draft is a terrible outcome, relying on the health and natural progression of their current roster.

    The Minnesota Timberwolves had a passionate run during the 2021-22 season. They finished in seventh place of the Western Conference with a record of 41-31.

    Expert 2022-23 Picks & Preview on Minnesota Timberwolves

    If you are a fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves, then you know that the only thing that matters right now is how they are expected to perform in the 2022-23 season. Do the Minnesota Timberwolves have the star power to make it all the way to the playoffs and win The Finals in 2023?

    Have a read on below at SportsTips expert picks & preview on the Minnesota Timberwolves:

    Front Office

    Chris Finch is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and this upcoming 2022-23 National Basketball Association season will be his third season in charge of the franchise. He has been coaching in the league for three years overall as a head coach but he is a longtime assistant coach and over the course of his coaching career, he has made the playoffs one time. His overall record in the regular season currently sits at 62-61. While his overall playoff record is currently sitting at 2-4. 

    Tim Connelly is the general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves and he has held that position within the franchise since 2022. This upcoming 2022-23 National Basketball Association season will be his first season as the decision maker for the franchise. However, he has had a long front office career in the league and has spent time with Denver, New Orleans and Washington. 

    Key Players

    Karl Anthony Towns is the best player on this team’s roster and will make a huge impact during the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. This upcoming season will be his eighth season in the National Basketball Association. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 25 points per game. He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around four assists per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around ten rebounds per game. 

    The second key player on this roster is Rudy Gobert and this upcoming season will be his tenth season in the National Basketball Association but this will be his first season in Minnesota after being traded during the offseason. Last season he put up some impressive numbers as he averaged around 16 points per game. He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around one assist per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around fifteen rebounds per game. He is one of the best defensive players in the league and is a multiple time Defensive Player Of The Year award winner. 

    Breakout Player

    Jaden McDaniels will be the breakout player on this team’s roster and he is sure to make a huge impact during the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. He is a former 28th overall pick in the 2020 National Basketball Association Draft. This upcoming season will be his third season in the National Basketball Association after attending Washington. Last season he put up some decent numbers as he averaged around nine points per game. 

    He set up his teammates as well as he averaged around one assist per game. He also managed to do some work on the boards as he averaged around four rebounds per game. He put in some work on the defensive end of the court as well, averaging around one steal per game and one block per game. His list of accolades is impressive as he is a former McDonald’s All-American.

    Minnesota Timberwolves Betting & Odds Preview 2022-23

    The Minnesota Timberwolves campaign during the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season went about as you would’ve expected. They finished the year with a record of 46-36 and in third place of the Northwest Division.  

    There is a lot of optimism surrounding the franchise heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. If they want to improve or keep up their current level of play they will certainly need a ton of production from their stars over the course of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. The most important thing in any season is how a team starts out of the gate, and then how they look when the all-star break approaches. 

    In the National Basketball Association, a lot can change over a single off-season. It will be interesting to see how their offseason moves translate onto the basketball court over the course of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season. Based on their odds to win some hardware headed into the season it is clear how the oddsmakers in Las Vegas feel about them heading into the year. 

    Their odds to bring home the Northwest Division championship this season currently sit at +150 heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, which puts them second in the Northwest Division out of five teams. 

    While their odds to win the Western Conference currently sit at +1400 heading into the 2022-23 National Basketball Association season, which puts them eighth in the Western Conference out of 15 teams. Their overall odds to bring home the championship are currently sitting at +2800 heading into the 2022-23 season, as they rank 13th out of all 30 teams in the National Basketball Association.

    Minnesota Timberwolves FAQs

    Still got some burning questions about the Minnesota Timberwolves? Well, we have answered some of the most common questions people have, hopefully you will find the answer you are looking for below! 

    Where do the Minnesota Timberwolves play?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves play their home games at the Target Center. 

    Who owns the Minnesota Timberwolves?

    Glen Taylor is the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

    Have the Minnesota Timberwolves won an NBA Championship?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves have won 0 NBA championships. 

    Who is the Minnesota Timberwolves coach?

    Chris Finch is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Finch was appointed midway through the 2020-21 season after the Timberwolves fired coach Ryan Saunders due to the teams 7-24 start to the season.

    Do the Minnesota Timberwolves play tonight?

    Are you wondering if the Minnesota Timberwolves are playing tonight? Well, SportsTips has all the details you need about upcoming Minnesota Timberwolves games! Make sure you check this page at the top for all the details you are looking for.

    What is the Minnesota Timberwolves record?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves had a 46-36 win-loss record for the 2021-22 NBA season. 

    Did the Minnesota Timberwolves win last night?

    Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves are all wanting to know if they won the game last night. You can find more information in relation to the team’s recent form in games on the page at the top.

    How much are the Minnesota Timberwolves worth?

    According to Forbes Magazine, the Minnesota Timberwolves are worth $1.55 billion.

    Who do the Minnesota Timberwolves play tonight?

    Like a lot of things in the NBA, things change pretty quickly. So, if you are looking for more information about who the Minnesota Timberwolves play tonight, you have come to the right place. We have all this information for you in detail, you can find these details for upcoming games at the top of the page.

    How to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves?

    You can watch the Minnesota Timberwolves on TV channels like ESPN, ABC, TNT, NBA TV or Fox Sports North, or subscribe to NBA League Pass. 

    Will the Minnesota Timberwolves make the playoffs this year?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves did make the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. They finished 7th in the Western Conference with a 46-36 record.

    Will the Minnesota Timberwolves get the 1st pick in the NBA Draft?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves won’t have the 1st selection in the 2022 NBA Draft.

    When do the Minnesota Timberwolves play?

    Minnesota Timberwolves fans are always looking for more information about when their team plays the next game. For all the information you have been craving and more, be sure to check the top of this page. Here at SportsTips we list all the information you need like the tip off time, location of the game and the all important NBA odds.

    Where did the Minnesota Timberwolves finish the season?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves finished the 2021-22 NBA season in 7th in the Western Conference. 

    How many games did the Minnesota Timberwolves win?

    The Minnesota Timberwolves won 46 games during the 2021-22 NBA season.