What’s Best for the Wolves for the Rest of 2014-15?
Mar 2, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng (5) vie for a loose ball in the first quarter at Target Center. The Los Angeles Clippers win 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
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Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves hung tough again against another soon-to-be NBA Playoffs participant. Once again though, they ultimately lost, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 110-105. It was very similar to the close games they had against the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies in the past week as well. The Wolves were competitive and made a game of it but fell short at the end.
For some Wolves fans and observers, this is the perfect outcome. They want to see competitive basketball and see the team make strides. However, they are also in the business of counting ping pong balls. As bad as the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise has been, they have almost impossibly never won the NBA Draft Lottery. This year, there are a few major prospects, including Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Duke’s Jahlil Okafor. Either one of those big men could be an excellent fit for this Wolves roster. A potential superstar down low added to a tem that already has a budding superstar on the wing in Andrew Wiggins could be the jolt this franchise needs to be completely relevant.
Ricky Rubio does not agree with this view point. Here is what he had to say after the loss to the Clippers, according to Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press:
Ricky Rubio wants nothing to do with moral victories pic.twitter.com/qLQ2KZVB8B
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) March 3, 2015
This is a very understandable point of view, particularly coming from someone with Rubio’s perspective. He has been a part of a lot of losing with the Wolves. Last season was the closest he has been to team success in the NBA when the Wolves went 40-42 in Kevin Love’s last season in Minnesota. He wants to build a culture of winning. Clearly, so does Flip Saunders otherwise he never would have traded for Kevin Garnett.
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So who is right? The people who want to pile up losses (even if they prefer them to be close) to maximize our Lottery percentage? Or Rubio and the players who are fighting so hard to win every night and want wins to become the norm around here instead of the exception? Well…
I don’t like sitting on fences. It is uncomfortable and Sporting Sota is a site built on opinion. Still, I struggle with this one a bit but I think I side with Rubio. This team has lost so much for so long. The last thing I want is for the well to be poisoned for Wiggins and all of the other young guys coming in. Culture matters in the NBA; Just ask Brian Shaw.
Make no mistake; I want the Wolves to get the top pick in the draft. I just think cultivating a winning attitude matters. Besides, the Wolves have had one of the worst records a bunch of times and it did not matter. The odds get better but nothing is guaranteed. The other thing is that the Wolves lost a ton of games when Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic were all injured. No matter what they do, they will be near the bottom of the league at this point.
I guess I just want it all. Wins and the top pick. Is that so much to ask?