Local Turkey Columnist Scoffs at Timberwolves’ Future with Anthony Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off the best season arguably in franchise history. Only twice, last season and in 2003-04 has the 25-year-old organization made it to the Western Conference Finals.

Given their best player, Anthony Edwards, is only 22-years-old, most media members and basketball fans across the country expect the Timberwolves to be a force in the West for many years to come. But the optimism doesn’t only surround Ant.

Karl-Anthony Towns is an All-NBA player and Rudy Gobert, no matter what Inside the NBA believes, is the best defensive player in the league. Throw in Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Nickeil-Alexander Walker etc, etc, etc, and you have one of the best rosters in the league for at least the next year or two… right?

The 2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves Experience

Relentless, connected team defense to force the steal, leading to the Anthony Edwards jaw-dropping highlight dunk pic.twitter.com/k7tkQ7Im0D

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) April 29, 2024

Patrick Reusse says Minnesota Timberwolves are cooked

Wrong, says Patrick Reusse (Star Tribune). According to the three-legged turkey, himself, this Minnesota Timberwolves team is nothing more than a flash in the pan.

Not only does Reusse believe that the Wolves will again fall short of the NBA Finals next season, he thinks the 2023-24 team was as good as it gets. That they will not reach the West Finals again this decade. Not in 2025, 26, 27, 28 or 2029.

We have seen what might be the ultimate season for the Wolves, and it was much fun. They won 56 games, which was 10 above preseason projections, and that second-round playoff series with Denver will live for years with its outrageous twists.

I have rarely watched a sports event more surprising than the Game 2 blowout in Denver, until Game 6 arrived at Target Center. Up by 50!

Trouble is, the entire line being offered about this being a young team that had to go through the playoff wars one time to see what it takes to go further … that’s nonsense.

Patrick Reusse – Star Tribune

In other words, last season was just a one-night NBA Playoff stand for the Minnesota Timberwolves. All that talk about Anthony Edwards gaining playoff experience that he will use to get better next time? Ignore it, says Reusse.

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Apparently, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley are too old and KAT has been in the league for nine years. I don’t know what Karl’s nine seasons of service time has to do with why the Wolves can’t make it back to the West Finals, because Pat doesn’t explain that point any further.

The point guard is 37. Rudy isn’t going to get better. KAT’s been in the league for nine years. What we found out is: You need two Ants and a half-dozen other pieces to get a chance to play for an NBA title.

Patrick Reusse on why the Minnesota Timberwolves won’t return to West Finals by 2030 (Star Tribune)

Reusse really flexed his all-time great local sports mind when he noted that the Timberwolves need good players to win in the NBA, which he seems to suggest the Wolves don’t have? Also noteworthy: The Wolves are set to return every player from their 2023-24 roster, outside of maybe Kyle Anderson.

How much does the longtime Minnesota sports reporter and columnist doubt the Wolves’ future? He gives them a 15% chance, which more than anything, proves he struggles with math because that is super high, especially when you are trying to shit on a team, not raise them up.

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Out of the four major men’s professional sports teams in town, Reusse ranks only the Twins (95%) as having a higher “improbability rate” of winning a championship before the year 2030 than the Wolves (85%). He ranks both the Wild (80%) and Vikings (70%) as having a better chance at a parade down Hennepin Avenue than Ant & Co.

Patrick Reusse is off his rocker again

I’m gonna end this on a short note. Someone tell Reusse that he is essentially claiming Anthony Edwards will not grow into the face of the NBA and a top-3 superstar like most believe he will. This is basketball, not hockey or baseball.

You could argue that a transcendent QB in football means as much. But in no other sport can one truly transcendent talent raise up a team more than basketball, where only five players per team are on the floor at a time and only seven or eight of them see valuable minutes.

If Ant really is HIM, the Timberwolves will be the next team to win a championship in this town, unless another team gets lucky. But if you are putting percentages on it, Ant, by far, gives the Wolves the best odds.