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Minnesota Timberwolves Ninth in Future Power Rankings

By Paul Bellesen

Apr 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) high fives center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Target Center. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 88-78. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) high fives center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Target Center. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 88-78. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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With a future as bright as ever, ESPN analysts rank the Minnesota Timberwolves as ninth in the future power rankings.

As we look ahead to the NBA Draft, there has been a lot of talk about the Minnesota Timberwolves and how bright their future is. With the assets and roster they currently have they are among the top in the NBA.

Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton, ESPN’s draft analysts, put together the power rankings for NBA team’s futures. This list was put together by ranking each NBA team in five different categories.

The first category was the current roster, which was the most important factor. Next was the teams management, and the team’s money, or projected salary cap situation, which were ranked equally important. The last two factors used were the market, and the draft, or future draft picks which were both equal factors.

Overall, with all these factors in play, the Minnesota Timberwolves were ranked as the ninth team in the Future Power Rankings. That is saying something about this team and how far it has come in comparison to the last ten years of mediocrity. This team has a chance to assert itself as an interesting team and fun team to watch in the upcoming years.

As for the first, and most important factor, the current roster, the Timberwolves ranked 12th in the NBA. In last year’s addition of the Future Power Rankings the team’s roster ranked 20th in the NBA. Obviously the emergence of Karl-Anthony Towns can make a huge difference and helped this team make a huge jump. Hopefully this year’s additions to the team, whether through the draft or free agency, can make a similar impact.

The next factor was the team’s management. In this category the Timberwolves ranked 27th. This was a small jump in the rankings, in comparison to last years rank of 29th. The Timberwolves did sign Tom Thibodeau to be the Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations, as well as Scott Layden to be the new General Manager, though we have yet to see any moves they have made and a reason to put them along side the NBA’s best. We should get a better idea after next season.

The next factor was money, or the projected cap situation. The Timberwolves ranked 19th in this category. This offseason the projected cap will go up, making about every NBA team able to have some spending money to play with. The Timberwolves will have to be wise about how they spend over the next few seasons if they want to keep their young core together.

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In the market category, as no surprise, the Minnesota ranks as 29th. This category is ranked by the appeal the market has for future acquisitions based on team quality, franchise reputation, city’s desirability as a destination, market size. taxes, business and entertainment opportunities, arena quality, and fan base. Minnesota has been known to have a hard time getting free agents to sign due to the frigid winters. In the modern NBA, players are looking at the money and ability to win sooner than later. The Timberwolves should be able to pull some free agents and this ranking should change over the next few seasons.

In the last category, draft, the Timberwolves are tied for 4th. They come in tied with Toronto. The upcoming draft will be very important for this team and the direction they head. This pick could impact more than fans think. The new front office has been very tight lipped about the draft and no one will know what they are thinking until draft night.

This is what they had to say about the Timberwolves.

"No one has made a bigger jump in our rankings than the Timberwolves, leaping from No. 19 to No. 9. If you focus on the next two years, that feels about right given how young their roster is. But by the 2018-19 season? This team could be a contender.The team is anchored by the past two rookie-of-the-year winners Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns in particular is exciting in terms of future success. Based on his stellar rookie season, he has the potential to become a top-five player in the league. He’s that special.Fill out their squad with young players like Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad, Nemanja Bjelica and the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft and the Wolves have, arguably, the best young roster in the NBA.Now they also have a top-five coach in the league in Tom Thibodeau, and a GM, Scott Layden, who is much savvier than his tough stint with the Knicks would suggest. Thibodeau has the coaching chops to get the most out of Minnesota’s young guys much the way he did in Chicago, and if Layden can find a few veterans to fill in off the bench they’ll be a playoff contender next season.This looks like a potentially dangerous playoff team in 2017-18 and a potential title contender in 2018-19."

Next: Pair of Timberwolves Receive All NBA Votes

Overall, the Timberwolves received the 9th rank for the Future Power Rankings. The future is bright in Minnesota with a group of very young budding superstars and an upcoming lottery pick, and a good amount of cap space. People around NBA circles are starting to take notice.

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