The preseason is often a time for evaluations, promises and predictions. Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns didn't shy away from making a bold prediction.
The Rookie of the Year tweeted in reply to a fan on Twitter asking how far his team will go during an impromptu online Q&A session held Thursday:
@atulbas11 see you in May
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) September 2, 2016
A very assertive statement indeed, considering that the Timberwolves have not made the playoffs in 13 years. Back then, Sam Cassell and Kevin Garnett called the shots on the floor.
Minnesota finished last season with a 29-53 record, meaning they'd have to improve by at least 12 wins in order to stay at the .500 line. An even record landed the Houston Rockets the eighth seed last season.
The Timberwolves boast plenty of youthful talent in the likes of Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and now the addition of fifth-overall pick Kris Dunn.
But they find themselves in a Western Conference notorious for its consistency with the likes of Golden State, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis and the Clippers — teams that have made the playoffs for at least the past four years.
Towns had a monster rookie season. He was the only rookie to start all 82 games, averaging a double-double of 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 54.3-percent shooting from the field. He also shot 81.1-percent from the free-throw line.
Assuming the key pieces stay healthy, Minnesota can slowly build its case toward a playoff hunt, especially under the leadership of new head coach Tom Thibodeau.
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