The Wild, Wild West: A Team-By-Team Preview Of The NBA Western Conference

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Zach LaVine (UCLA) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number thirteen overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves (Northwest Division)

Last year’s result: Regular Season (40-42). Missed Playoffs

Significant players added: Zach LaVine (Rookie)

Significant players lost: None

Projected starting lineup: Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer, Kevin Love, Nikola Pekovic

Analysis: Is it just me or are the T-Wolves becoming the unofficial alumni team of UCLA? Since drafting Zach LaVine, Minnesota now has four UCLA Bruin alums on the roster in Kevin Love, Shabazz Muhammad, Luc Mbah A Moute, and Zach LaVine. Just a weird tidbit.

Anyways, their offseason is more about what hasn’t happened yet, more so than anything that has. Kevin Love is officially the biggest name on the market now that LeBron and Melo have made their decisions. A few suitors such as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have expressed strong interest in Love’s services, but no trade offers have been accepted so far. The Warriors seem unwilling to part with Klay Thompson, nor are they willing to take back Kevin Martin and his remaining three-year, $21.3 million contract that comes with him.

On the other hand, the Cavs have already seen their first trade attempt rejected, offering up Dion Waiters, former 1^st overall pick Anthony Bennett, and a 1^st round pick. It doesn’t look like Minnesota is in any hurry to move Love, as he’ll return for one more year if they don’t receive an offer that contains either Wiggins (among other assets) from Cleveland or Klay Thompson (among other assets) from Golden State.

Grade: C+