The clarification of the team reporter is thought-provoking. He said that unless Downs applied to leave the team, the Timberwolves would not send him away. But he immediately changed the subject, saying that the top management of each team was really concerned about Downs and all the players who lost. The fans joked that this was to remind Downs that it was time to apply for a deal?
In fact, the reason why I am ambiguous with the team reporter is because the timberwolves' record is really not on the table, and it is not incomprehensible to start all over again.
Wiggins was the No.1 pick of 20 14, and Downes went to Minnesota as the No.1 pick of 20 15. But by the end of the 20 18- 19 season, they had only led the timberwolves into the playoffs once, and half of the credit for that time was still attributed to jimmy butler. Since then, the timberwolves have gone from bad to worse, from 47 to 36, 19. This season, they also ranked at the bottom of the league with 1 1 wins and 36 losses. Rao lost 20 games in a row, but they didn't "surpass" the Timberwolves. Even if 1 1 won, four games came after the All-Star weekend, which was caused by the outbreak of Edwards. Before the All-Star weekend this season, the Timberwolves only scored 7 wins and 29 losses, which is terrible.
Butler mercilessly uncovered the scars of the Timberwolves before and after he left, led three teams to blow up the team that Downs and others were training, and confirmed his bad comments on the two young core timberwolves. However, the Timberwolves are well aware of the value of Downs and that Minnesota, as a bitter and cold place in the north, is really not attractive to big-name free agents. To this end, they are also trying their best to please Downs, not only offering him a generous contract of 65,438+58 million for five years, but also exchanging Wiggins for Downs' close friend Russell in the middle of the 2065,438+09-20 season, and in order to facilitate the transaction, they also signed the first round of protection for the top three teams in the 2026,5438+0 season to the Warriors.
But the timberwolves' wishful thinking fell through. Russell and Downs, two close friends, only played once in the 20 19-20 season (February 2020 1 1, timberwolves 126- 137 lost to the Raptors), and Downs hung a war-free card. This season, the number of cooperation between the two is also very small. In the opening season, the two men joined hands to win two consecutive victories, and then Downs was suspended. They only joined forces again in June 65438+ 10/0 against Spurs and June 65438+10/4 against Grizzlies. Since then, Downs has been recuperating until February 1 1 day. Coincidentally, just two days ago, Russell fell ill and has been recuperating until today.
At most, Downs and Russell have only cooperated in five games since the transaction, leading the team to 2 wins and 3 losses. Although the news that Russell is about to return has finally come out recently, if we ask the timberwolves' senior management now whether it is cost-effective to send away the first round of signing at 202 1, they will give a negative answer with great probability.
Of course, the Timberwolves' sending Downs and Russell away is a bit "Jun Qing's side".
Edwards joined the Timberwolves with the aura of No.1 pick in 2020, but he was stung at the beginning of the season. No wonder. After all, before the all-star weekend this season, he played 36 games, starting 19 games, averaging 14.9 points, 4 rebounds and 2.5 assists, but his total shooting percentage was only 37. 1%, and his three-point shooting percentage was only 30.2%. In the same period, three goals won a full house in the Hornets, and both the record and the game were harvested. Even Halliburton, Quikley, Maxi, Cole Anthony and other colleagues began to take the lead. At one time, everyone doubted: "Is the Timberwolves afraid to choose the parallel champion?"
But after all-star weekend, Edwards changed. In the following 1 1 game, he averaged 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists 1.5 steals, and his shooting percentage increased to 42. 1% and 32.3%, which also made him play against Pelicans, Blazers and Blazers.
In a word, if the timberwolves don't make changes, judging from the fierce competition in the western region today, at best, it will be wasted year after year in the vision of the future. They may have had enough in this regard.
Moreover, the transaction value of Downs and Russell is not low now, especially if the former enters the trading market, it will surely trigger another wave of looting in the alliance, so that the Timberwolves can collect the future team-building capital; If it works properly, the emergence of a new force is not an idiotic dream. What's more, 202 1 is a big draft year. If the Timberwolves can keep the first round of 202 1, they are expected to choose a new partner for Edwards in the top three positions (to be on the safe side, the Timberwolves can also trade with the first round of 202 1, and Downs is definitely worth it). The same is longing and waiting, but it seems more reassuring.
In fact, if the 20 17- 18 season hadn't made it to the playoffs, the timberwolves would have been even worse than the kings who missed the playoffs for consecutive 14 seasons, because in that case, the timberwolves would have missed the playoffs for consecutive 17 seasons (including this season). In the 2003-04 season, the timberwolves led by the Three-headed Monster broke into the west for the first time, but fell from the peak instantly. After Garnett left in 2007, the Timberwolves experienced the Love Era, Downs+Wiggins Era and Downs+Russell Era, and they were always associated with failure.
The reason is not only the bad geographical environment in Minnesota, but also the inhumanity entrusted by the Timberwolves. Love and ups and downs are both offensive ends, but defense is not their strong point. However, they are gentle and seem to be more suitable to be Mr. and Mr., but they can't be team leaders.
In addition, the reconstruction team has been unable to take the lead for many years, and the draft also bears great responsibility. In 2006, the Timberwolves selected Roy and traded him for randy foye, a pioneer. In 2007, the Timberwolves selected "Company Commander" corey brewer in the 7th overall pick, and missed Gasol Jr., Horford and Noah. In 2008, the Timberwolves chose Mayo as a flower-exploring show and immediately got lucky, which was wise, but it also missed Shao Wei. In 2009, the Timberwolves reelected two point guards, Lu Biao and johnny flynn, but passed Curry, who ranked seventh (it was also said that Curry refused to join).
At 20 10 and 20 1 1, the timberwolves got the fourth and second pick, but they mistakenly chose wesley johnson and Derek Williams. On 20 14 and 20 15, the timberwolves selected Lavin and Downs successively, which is very commendable. But in 20 16, they wasted the fifth place in kris dunn, and Hilde and jamal murray were selected later. In the following years, the Timberwolves sent out Mark Kanin, Cameron Johnson and Pokushevsky in the first round, but the first two were exchanged for Butler and Djalet Culver, which was not a loss.
In fact, even focusing on the draft, the Timberwolves should say goodbye to Downs and Russell. In the 2020 draft, Wiseman rejected the Timberwolves. The reason he gave was that the Timberwolves had Downs and overlapped with him. Timberwolves once fell into the dilemma that there were people inside and outside the line, and no one in the top three was suitable. The Timberwolves are lucky to get Edwards. He has good ability and is willing to play in Minnesota, but there is no guarantee that he will be so lucky next time.
If Downs and Russell are sent away, considering that Edwards is the core of the future, the Timberwolves will know better who to choose for the third place before 202 1. For example, Evan Mobry, the top three in the draft of 20021,recently led South China University into the top eight for the first time since 20001,and won three prizes in Pac- 12 this year. Does the Timberwolves have no idea about him? (Sit-ups/Mao Mao)