The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the midst of a disappointing season, in which they were expected to compete for the NBA title. Instead, the T-Wolves have a 38-35 record and currently trail the Memphis Grizzlies by three games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Minnesota's struggles can be attributed to the inconsistent performance of veterans Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell, as well as a lack of strong frontcourt players to complement the perimeter ones, among other things. However, one player who has done all he can to pick up the Wolves is forward Kevin Garnett.
Garnett, arguably the league's best and most versatile player, continues to post numbers in his 10th season that have made him an eight-time All-Star and NBA MVP of the 2003-04 season. He leads his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game, and his numbers in these categories are all in the top 25 in the league. He plays with an intensity matched by few others in the league, and his playoff performance last season dashed any critiques of Garnett as an underachiever.
The only thing missing from what has been a great NBA career for him thus far, like many other great athletes, is a championship. Garnett is probably the league's best player without a ring, but the prospects for him and the T-Wolves to win one in the near future are not particularly bright. Garnett is doing just about everything within his power to make his team as successful as possible, but the lack of support from his fellow teammates has hurt the team and will continue to do so unless changes are made.
Garnett has never had a reliable partner in the frontcourt to help shoulder the responsibilities closer to the basket. The current Wolves lineup has Ervin Johnson, Michael Olowokandi, Mark Madsen and Eddie Griffin as Garnett's frontcourt mates. Johnson is a 12-year veteran whose days of contributing significant minutes are well behind him.
Olowokandi, the first pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, has fallen short of lofty expectations and has never come close to reaching his potential. Both Madsen and Griffin have had lackluster careers thus far, and while they are young, are not good starting frontcourt players.
Minnesota could look to the draft or free agency in an effort to solve this problem. Cleveland Cavaliers' center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will likely hit the free agent market, as well as Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, both of the Chicago Bulls. In addition, the draft presents some potentially intriguing prospects, such as Sean May and Ike Diogu, among others.
The other major roadblocks in Garnett's pursuit of a championship are, surprisingly, his two most consistent aides: Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. Both players were acquired before the 2003-04 season with the hopes that they would be able to finally allow Garnett and the Wolves to make the leap into the elite teams in the NBA.
In their first season, Garnett and the team nearly realized this goal, before they lost to the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. Their production has fallen greatly this season and it has taken a significant toll on the team.
Sprewell is having the worst season of his 12-year career, averaging career lows in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game. His scoring has dropped 4.4 points from last season to this season. While Cassell's season is not a career worst, his drop in production has been as bad, if not worse then Sprewell's.
He is scoring six points less per game, and, as the team's point guard, is dishing out only 5.3 assists per game, down from 7.3 per game last season. With Cassell being 35 years old and Sprewell being 34, it seems as if they may be passing their primes and need to be replaced. Michael Redd, Larry Hughes and Jason Richardson are among those who will be sought after and could provide the Wolves with some talented youth in their backcourt.
Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves have been trying for years to find the formula for success in the NBA. Its lack of players to complement KG has caused problems that have cast Garnett's chances to win a championship in the near future in doubt.
However, a few personnel changes could have the team performing as well, if not better, then they played in 2003-04, ultimately resulting in the O'Brien Trophy that Garnett and the team is seeking.
