2012-13 NBA Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves

By Kels Dayton
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Updated: October 20, 2012

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

HOW THEY CAN WIN: The Wolves finally appeared ready for a breakthrough season this year, but all of the optimism in Minnesota was tempered when superstar forward Kevin Love (26 ppg, 13.3 rpg) went down with a hand injury. He could miss 6-8 weeks. But all isn’t lost. There’s enough talent in place to keep the ship above water until he comes back. Ricky Rubio’s own return from injury is being celebrated like a national holiday in Minnesota, and Russian Olympic heroes Alexey Shved and Andrei Kirilenko could each provide depth. Head coach Rick Adelman is one of the truly underrated coaches in the game, and he knows how to handle injuries and misfortune.

WHY THEY WON’T: The Wolves can’t afford to go into the tank without Love, who means everything to this team. The first few weeks will be critical to this team’s playoff hopes.

FINAL DESTINATION: The Timberwolves are right there, on the cusp of breaking through and ending the years of misery that have defined the post-KG era. It’s up to Rubio and Love to stay healthy and make it happen.

OUR CALL: 44-38.

TEAM ROSTER
NO.	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE	2012-2013 SALARY
17	Lou Amundson	PF	29	6-9	225	UNLV	$2,763,450
11	Jose Juan Barea	PG	28	6-0	175	Northeastern	$4,493,500
10	Chase Budinger	SF	24	6-7	218	Arizona	$885,120
5	Will Conroy	PG	29	6-2	195	Washington
32	Dante Cunningham	PF	25	6-8	230	Villanova	$2,090,000
33	Mike Harris	SF	29	6-6	235	Rice	$854,389
99	Robbie Hummel	SF	23	6-8	215	Purdue
20	Chris Johnson	PF	27	6-11	210	LSU	$762,195
4	Phil Jones	C	27	6-10	255
47	Andrei Kirilenko	SF	31	6-9	235		$9,779,349
8	Malcolm Lee	SG	22	6-5	200	UCLA	$762,195
42	Kevin Love	PF	24	6-10	260	UCLA	$13,668,750
14	Nikola Pekovic	C	26	6-11	290		$4,837,200
13	Luke Ridnour	PG	31	6-2	175	Oregon	$4,000,000
3	Brandon Roy	SG	28	6-6	211	Washington	$5,100,000
9	Ricky Rubio	PG	21	6-4	180		$3,741,120
1	Alexey Shved	PG	23	6-6	182		$2,934,610
34	Greg Stiemsma	C	27	6-11	260	Wisconsin	$2,575,000
15	Seth Tarver	PG	24	6-5	215	Oregon State
23	Jermaine Taylor	G	25	6-4	210	UCF	$780,871
7	Derrick Williams	PF	21	6-8	241	Arizona	$4,809,840