Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Championship Betting Odds
For the first time in two decades, there is reason to be excited about the Minnesota Timberwolves. This long moribund franchise doubled its win total from the 2020-21 season last year, and they gave the Memphis Grizzlies a real challenge in the first round of the playoffs. They swung for the fences this offseason with their decision to trade for Rudy Gobert, but the oddsmakers are still bearish on their chances to win the NBA title.
Minnesota Timberwolves at a Glance
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Minnesota’s decision to give up a king’s ransom for Utah’s Rudy Gobert this offseason was a head scratcher. While the front office did prove it wanted to win, the Timberwolves drastically overpaid for a player that was locked into a big contract extension. Many pundits were down on Gobert because of his postseason woes, and Minnesota likely could have given up much less if the team decided to be more patient.
The Timberwolves dealt five players and four draft picks to the Utah Jazz in order to get Gobert. Minnesota traded Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, and 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler to Utah in order to get Gobert. That wasn’t the eye-popping part of the trade though as the T-Wolves elected to include first round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029, and a pick swap in 2026. Minnesota is effectively saying this is its best chance to win, but that’s an extremely steep price to pay for Gobert.
Gobert signed a five-year, $205 million extension before the start of the 2020-21 season. He is under contract until the 2026 offseason, and he is one of the best defensive big men in the game. However, his shortcomings have been highlighted in the postseason, leading to consternation among Utah fans. They weren’t disappointed to see Gobert leave, and that’s usually a bad sign.
The hope is that Gobert will allow Karl-Anthony Towns the opportunity to take his game to the next level since he won’t be relied upon to be a presence in the paint on defense. Towns averaged 24.6 PPG and 9.8 RPG last season, but he was a defensive liability, and this will take away some of those responsibilities.
Anthony Edwards took his game to the next level last season. Edwards was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he showed he has what it takes to be a budding superstar by averaging 21.3 PPG while coming up clutch in the postseason. DeAngelo Russell was solid alongside him, but this will probably be his last year in Minnesota since he will be a free agent next summer.
There is no depth on the roster after the Gobert trade. Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, and Austin Rivers will all be asked to play big minutes as a result.
Minnesota Timberwolves Seasons (2000)
| YEAR |
RECORD |
PLAYOFFS |
| 2021-22 |
46-36 |
Lost First Round |
| 2020-21 |
23-49 |
- |
| 2020-21 |
23-49 |
- |
| 2019-20 |
19-45 |
- |
| 2018-19 |
36-46 |
- |
| 2017-18 |
47-35 |
Lost First Round |
| 2016-17 |
31-51 |
- |
| 2015-16 |
29-53 |
- |
| 2014-15 |
16-66 |
- |
| 2013-14 |
40-42 |
- |
| 2012-13 |
31-51 |
- |
| 2011-12 |
26-40 |
- |
| 2010-11 |
17-65 |
- |
| 2009-10 |
15-67 |
- |
| 2008-09 |
24-58 |
- |
| 2007-08 |
22-60 |
- |
| 2006-07 |
32-50 |
- |
| 2005-06 |
33-49 |
- |
| 2004-05 |
44-38 |
- |
| 2003-04 |
58-24 |
Lost Conference Finals |
| 2002-03 |
51-31 |
Lost First Round |
| 2001-02 |
50-32 |
Lost First Round |
| 2000-01 |
47-35 |
Lost First Round |
The worst historical franchise in the current NBA is the Minnesota Timberwolves. They are the one franchise that currently has an all-time win/loss record under .400, and they have been in the league for over three decades at this point.
Minnesota was a feared team in the Kevin Garnett era as they made the NBA Playoffs in every year from 1997 through 2004. Head coach Flip Saunders and Garnett proved to be a strong tandem that made it to the 2004 Western Conference Finals, but that has proved to be the peak for the franchise. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for seven straight seasons before that lone breakthrough.
Since 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves have only been to the postseason twice. They have been dreadful most years, and they haven’t won more than 47 games in a season in that stretch. However, they doubled their number of wins from 2020-21 to 2021-22 and may be ready to finally compete once again.
NBA Teams
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Eastern Conference - Central
Eastern Conference - Southeast
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Western Conference - Pacific
Western Conference - Southwest
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