2022 Minnesota Timberwolves Season Review

The Minnesota Timberwolves finished their season last week after falling to Memphis in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Summary:
This year the Wolves surprised many people, including their own fans. While I wanted to say "I told you!" in this article, even I was skeptical. This team has been so bad for so many years, it genuinely made made even die hard fans question their team's trajectory. That being said, I don't think many die hard fans like myself could have asked for a better resurgent season from the Minnesota Timberwolves. From the first long win streak to the final buzzer in Game 6, this season has been fun and exhilarating!

In the 2021-22 season, the Wolves finished 46-36, 3rd in the Northwest division, and 7th in the Western Conference. They also averaged the most points in the NBA and scored the most points in the NBA (a franchise record) as well as most 3-pointers made. They also led the league in field goal attempts per game. Minnesota finished the year as the 4th ranked offense in the NBA, and the 13th ranked defense. This was a big turnaround for a Wolves team usually marred in terrible defense and mediocre offense. Minnesota was fun to watch this season, which is the first time in a long time I have been able to say this. This team seemed to care about how they do during the season, as well as trying to give the fans something to care for. Speaking of fans, the Wolves sold out Target Center for the final two weeks of the regular season as well as the play-in game and all three home playoff games. Like I have said in the past, if you have a good team in Minneapolis, the fans will show up! Now Target Center has been mainly a quiet arena that is usually pleasant for opposing teams, given that fans have not been very excited for a lackluster team. This year was the complete opposite, especially after D'Angelo Russell so famously critiqued the Wolves fanbase for being to quiet and needed Anthony Edwards to dunk to get them out of their seats. He challenged the fans to stand until the team made their first basket, and get loud! The Minnesota fans responded to DLo's challenge and brought the noise for most of the season, including in the playoffs when it mattered the most.

Stats
Lets take a look at the stats from the Wolves regular season. Minnesota was lead by 7th year veteran C Karl-Anthony Towns who averaged 24.6 pts/game, 33.4 mins/game, 9.8 reb/game, 3.6 ast/game and 3.1 to/game. He also had a season FG% of 52.9% as well as 41.0 3PT%, both highs in Towns' career. KAT was his usual offensively dominant self, and this season featured another career high for him, 60 points in a game. This is also a new franchise record for player points in a game. Towns also improved on the defensive end, regularly shifting up to play the high wall defense that caused so many teams to struggle. He also averaged 1.1 blk/game for the first time in his NBA career.
2nd year young man SF Anthony Edwards continued his rise to greatness this season after showing up to the party last season. He averaged 21.3 pts/game, 34.3 mins/game, 4.8 reb/game, 3.8 ast/game and 2.6 to/game. Ant also was 44.1% from the field and 35.7% from the 3-point line. All of these stats are increases from last season as he continues to grow and learn from the game around him. Ant had several games this season in which he came up big in key moments. He is learning how to be great in the NBA, and has improved quite a bit on the defensive side of the ball as well. Ant has learned from veteran Patrick Beverley and knows how to play defense now.
7th year veteran D'Angelo Russell had a more balanced season this year then in recent years. He averaged 18.1 pts/game, 32.0 mins/game, 3.3 reb/game, 7.1 ast/game, 2.5 to/game. DLo also was 41.1% from the field and 34.0% from the 3-point line. DLo was more the facilitating point guard this season. His priority was to set up plays for his teammates, not create his own. But if he had his open shot, then of course he would take it. Russell is an excellent shooter and is very accurate, but also has learned how to be a great playmaker. DLo also advanced on his defensive skills this year, he was downright nasty to play defense against during the season.

No one player was able to play in all 82 games this season. Minnesota vastly improved on the defensive side of the ball, while they still gave up 113.3 pts/game, they averaged 115.9 pts/game. The Wolves consistently gave opponents headaches when they played defense. Minnesota garnered several long win streaks this year, including streaks of 5 and 6 games. While the Wolves never were able to string together a double digit streak, they went months without losing at home. Minnesota won every home game from the beginning of January until late February, the longest streak in franchise history. They also had the most wins in a season since 2004.

In the playoffs, Anthony Edwards lead the team in a points/game with 25.2 Ant showed up a lot, having great performances in games 1, 3 and 6. Ant shot 45.5% from the field and 40.4% from 3. KAT was also great for Minnesota towards the end of the series. Towns averaged 21.8 pts/game and 10.8 reb/game in the playoffs, as well as shooting 48.8% from the field and 45.5% from the 3-point line. KAT had foul trouble the first few games of the playoffs but had a resurgence in the Game 4 win at home. D'Lo had a rougher postseason then most would have expected. Russell seemingly disappeared from the field during the playoffs, but played exceptional defense and had great playmaking skills.

Future
The Wolves head into the offseason with more answers then questions for once. This team played extremely well this year and I don't expect much to change in the offseason. Lets start with a few players/executives and move forward.
HC Chris Finch
Finch has only been on board with Minnesota for a season and a half and he has already led this team to its second playoff berth since 2004. Chris was extended for 4 years at the conclusion of the regular season, and I could envision him being here longer if he continues to succeed. 

C Karl-Anthony Towns
Before this season, many rumors swirled that Towns may skip town after this season if the team couldn't reach the playoffs. I think its safe to say those rumors have been squashed and I don't think Towns has been happier with the team then he was this season. He has said multiple times that this team felt like family this year and it really helped him love the game of basketball again. If memory serves, Towns is eligible for an extension this offseason. After All-NBA selections come out, I think KAT will land as either a 1st team or 2nd team All-NBA player which will line him up for the supermax, which I believe the Wolves will give him. Towns will probably stay in Minnesota for at least the next 4 years.

Filling the President of Basketball Ops Position (or GM)
Minnesota fired newer POBO Gersson Rosas the week before the 2021-22 season began, and at the time it signaled potentially another discombobulated year for the Wolves. Instead, management brought in Sachin Gupta, who has experience returning struggling franchises to greatness (aka Philadelphia). While Gupta may not have made the most shiny moves this year as a sudo-GM, he made the right ones for a team in the middle of a resurgence. At the trade deadline, the Wolves stood pat and didn't trade anyone. This did prove to work for Minnesota and I think that may be Gupta's best move. Minnesota did sign C Greg Monroe to finish the season here, and I wouldn't be so sure he is staying. Head coach Chris Finch has highly praised Gupta many times this year, including in the team's final press conference on Saturday. I don't envision the Wolves going elsewhere to fill the position and I would be surprised not to see Gupta take the role. Sachin Gupta will most likely be the next POBO/GM of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

PG D'Angelo Russell
Russell came into this year with more questions then answers. And while he played a very balanced game in the regular season, he seemingly disappeared from the offense side of the ball in the postseason. I don't think this will affect his contract situation and I think he will be back next year with the Wolves. I don't think he is in a contract year either, so that situation is avoided as well. 

PF Taurean Prince
Prince was only signed for a one or two year deal and he is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has already indicated in final interviews that he intends to resign with the Wolves, as he likes where the team is headed. While I think he field a few offers from other teams I think he will stay in Minnesota.

PG Patrick Beverley
Beverley signed was traded to Minnesota from the LA Clippers and Memphis last summer. However, Pat Bev has already agreed to terms with the Wolves front office for a modest 1 year extension that keeps him here until next summer. I think as long as the Wolves continue to put up good seasons, Beverley will be here until he believes he needs to move somewhere else.

SF Josh Okogie
Okogie was a strong candidate to get traded at the deadline this year, he seemed to take it personally and had a strong remainder of the regular season. However, I think if Okogie is at the end of his contract, he will end up somewhere else next season.

PG Jordan McLaughlin
JMac filled the role of strong backup point guard this season for Minnesota. He was exceptionally good at his job in the playoffs this year, and I don't envision the Wolves letting him go. I think McLaughlin stays in Minnesota if his contract is up, and if not I think the Wolves extend him.

SG Leandro Bolmaro
Bolmaro finals arrived from Europe last summer and began training with the Wolves. No decision needs to be made on his future this offseason, but given that he only seems to be able to make waves when playing down in Iowa, I think he is a strong candidate to be involved in a trade should Minnesota make one. I just don't see a future for a young shooting guard on this roster when the Wolves have the combo of KAT, DLo, Pat Bev, and Ant. 

PF Jarred Vanderbilt
Vando signed with Minnesota last year and didn't seem to do much last season. But this year, Vando started most of the season for Minnesota in the ever changing 4 slot. Vanderbilt isn't a shooter, he is Minnesota's defense anchor that can provide close range shooting when needed. For that reason alone I think Minnesota keeps Vando here longer, not sure if he is in a contract year but they might look to extend him this summer.

C Naz Reid
Reid has developed nicely since entering the league a couple years ago. Naz can be a well rounded player but has lots of issues when matching up against larger bigs which is an issue in the modern NBA. While Reid added lots of size to the bench for Minnesota and was able to provide Towns much needed rest during games, he needs to get better at the low post with larger bigs to make it necessary for the Wolves to keep him. I think he is under contract for one more year, but Minnesota might include him in a trade this offseason if that is the route they go for a big.

Any other players I did not include I either didn't have anything to add or don't believe their future with Minnesota will change this summer.

I think the Wolves will look to add another big alongside Towns that can play great defense but also get rebounds on the offensive glass and show up large bigs. That is why I highlighted Naz Reid as potentially trade bound. 

This Wolves team set a precedent this season for how good their floor can be. Minnesota has a long way to go to becoming a Finals contender. But this is a great start to what will hopefully become the next great Wolves team in franchise history.

Thank you fans, for supporting this blog throughout the season. It has been a fun one and I look forward to covering the Wolves next season!

Go Wolves! #WolvesBack #RaisedByWolves