Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 16-35
Current odds: 10.5%
Remaining SOS: 6th hardest (.525)
Years Tanking: 2 years if you count that one Jimmy Butler year, 16 years if you don’t
The Timberwolves are probably the most interesting team on this list, and if one team was able to make a magical run into the playoffs, it’s probably them.
Minnesota might have won the trade deadline by receiving draft capital alongside D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez, James Johnson and Omari Spellman.
Even before D’Lo made his debut, the new-look T-Wolves exploded to beat the Clippers 142-115 on Saturday, with Beasley and undrafted rookie Jordan McLaughlin looking like stars.
KAT is one of the league’s best big men and should have a revitalized 2nd half playing with the best team around him since Jimmy Butler left. Still, the strength of schedule is pretty tough, and their deadline additions might have been too late to overcome the 13-game losing streak they just broke.
If not this year, the T-Wolves should be very good next season.
State of the tank: 2/3 of the puzzle