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Minnesota Timberwolves Make Huge Jump in 2017 Odds

By Paul Bellesen

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Milt Newton honors guard Andrew Wiggins (22), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Zach LaVine (8) for their performance during All-Star Weekend prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Milt Newton honors guard Andrew Wiggins (22), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Zach LaVine (8) for their performance during All-Star Weekend prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the matchup for the 2016 NBA Finals has been set, the odds for the 2017 NBA Finals have been released with the Minnesota Timberwolves making a huge jump.

It looks like the national media, and Las Vegas, has taken notice of the progress and growth the Minnesota Timberwolves made last season. They have also signed a former top 5 head coach and a general manager from one of the most storied teams.

Every year around this time, the Vegas bookmakers release their odds for the NBA teams to win the NBA finals for the upcoming season. As we have seen in the last few months of the NBA regular season, the Timberwolves were starting to gain some steam.

Now as we look at the upcoming seasons odds, via Westgate, the Timberwolves have 60-1 odds to win the NBA Championship in 2017. Those odds are still far off, but the surprising part was that they have the fifth-best odds in the Western Conference, and tied for the 11th best odds in the NBA.

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The Timberwolves have the same odds as the Portland Trailblazers, who were a playoff team this year. They also have better odds that two other Western Conference playoff teams(Houston and Memphis). Without reading too far into this, it looks like the sports books are calling for the Timberwolves to make the playoffs next season.

Here is what they said about the Timberwolves.

"The Portland Trail Blazers would have been the biggest surprise at 60-1, were it not for the Minnesota Timberwolves, also 60-1. That is a shocking figure, even with the odds being so low. A team built around three sub-25-year-olds usually doesn’t make the playoffs, let alone compete. Shows you the impact of Karl-Anthony Towns."

This is a huge jump for this team who were in the bottom five of the league odds for last year’s NBA Championship. To add one key player, all though he might be the best prospect since Lebron James, and a top tier coach, the expectations for this team are very high. This team’s biggest pieces are still 21 or younger. We need to make sure we give these kids the appropriate time to grow.

Next: Wolves Ninth in Future Power Rankings

These odds come out before the draft and the NBA Free Agency period. The Timberwolves have a top 5 pick, and will look to be active in the Free Agency period this offseason to fill a few spots on their roster. With the right moves, this team could be a contender sooner than later.

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