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Building the Team Well in Minnesota's case the rebuilding of the T'Wolves

The Timberwolves of this year became completely different than the team of last year. Last year's team missed the playoffs for the third straight year and continues the decline from the Western Conference finalist in 2004, declining from 58 wins to 44, 33, and then to 32 wins. Kevin McHale had continued missteps on building the team around Kevin Garnett and finally with Garnett entering the end of his prime and free agency, McHale felt it was time to completely blow up the team as it were and get the best deal out there for the former MVP.

McHale made two moves that dumped his top 2 players:

July 31, 2007
Traded forward Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics for guards Sebastian Telfair and Gerald Green, forwards Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson, center Theo Ratliff, two first-round picks and cash.

October 24, 2007
Traded guard Ricky Davis and center Mark Blount to the Miami Heat for forwards Antoine Walker and Wayne Simien, center Michael Doleac, a first-round pick and cash.

Added to these changes was the drafting of Corey Brewer from the University of Florida.

The new starting lineup of the T-Wolves became:

C- Al Jefferson 4th year; 21.0 points, 11.1 Rebounds, 1.5 Blocks per game

The centerpiece of the Garnett trade, Al Jefferson was looked at as a rising contender in Boston, who was hoped would develop in time to pair with Paul Peirce to from the Celtics nucleus with one of the top picks in the 2007 draft. The Lottery did not smile on the T-Wolves so Danny Ainge was forced to look elsewhere to improve the team- and found a kindred spirit in Kevin McHale. Al Jefferson blossomed in Minnesota; starting all 82 games he was 11th in the NBA in points and 5th in rebounds- one of only 4 players to do so. Jefferson was also 3rd in double-doubles. Al Jefferson was awarded an NBA player of the week in January and narrowly missed a selection to the All-Star game. At 23, Jefferson carries this team into the future.

PF- Ryan Gomes 3rd year; 12.6 Points and 5.8 rebounds per game

Gomes was considered too short to play Power Forward and did not have the outside game to play Small Forward, but Celtic GM Danny Ainge thought he would make a good addition to the Celtics because of his work ethic, but at the end of the year Gomes embarrassed the team by admitting the team might have been tanking games. Shipped to Minnesota, Gomes started 74 games and played in all 82 last year. Gomes's numbers didn't

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