Minnesota Timberwolves Preseason Presser 2015-2016

[JNR]

"What to make of these young Timberwolves, C-Webb?"

The lights are out and the projector displays a broadcast of the local Minnesota game coverage. It's after the last game of last season. Chris Webber and Robot Pack sit alongside Minnesota broadcast mainstay Dave Benz.

Webber: There's no offense, Dave. These young guys play staunch defense but there's no one they can rely on to score the ball.

Benz: Well there's so many young guys on this team, Robot. Do you see any of them growing into the position?

Pack: Wiggins has offensive potential, no doubt about it, but most of their other young players project to be strong defenders and mediocre offensive options. The only real way they can improve in that department is by bringing in someone who gets buckets.

Benz: There you have it. With Timberwolves legends Chris Webber and Robert Pack, I'm Dave Benz signing off for the end of a weak campaign for the Wolves. They end the season at 32-50, with many unanswered questions heading into next year.

The projector shuts off and the lights come on. The JNR is standing at the podium. Behind him seated at a table are Kemba Walker, Otto Porter, Andrew Wiggins, Brook Lopez, Derrick Favors, and the latest addition to the team, Steph Curry.

The JNR: This offseason was rough for me for several reasons. I expected last year to be a rough season with growing pains, and I was pleased with our defense. But then I realized a very bad thing about myself, a thing that could ultimately be my undoing in this league.

I don't like defense.

He throws his arms up in the air.

The JNR: Defense is boring! Watching young talent like Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green and Otto Porter make stops, steals, and displaying excellent help defense -- sure, that wins basketball games. But I'm a simple man -- I want to see the ball go in the basket. The teams that I've fielded have all had superstar scorers. C-Webb. Bosh. And much like our astute broadcast team picked up, there wasn't much potential on this team to give me that fast-paced, offensive firepower I love so much.

So I made a rash decision, a bold decision, some may even say a dumb decision. I traded Rudy Gobert, our 2017 pick, and our newly drafted 2016 pick Brian Stark for the 2016 Finals MVP Steph Curry. Curry has taken a few steps back since his amazing years earlier in his career, but he can still be a scoring machine, and that's what this team needs. Or more importantly, that's what I want.

We kept Kemba in restricted free agency. We told him to find a max deal and we would match it, and although he expressed interest in going to Brooklyn, we were happy to match his deal. Kemba at first was a little confused by our Curry trade, but once we assured him we didn't want to get rid of him and in fact envisioned a Curry/Kemba backcourt, he was on board.

For the most part besides those signings, we will field largely the same roster. Anthony Randolph has come back on a minimum deal, and we're excited to see him bounce back from his horrific leg injury last year.

Preseason went well for us this year, and although we had envisioned a different starting lineup, the amount of offensive success we had will likely influence me to use this lineup for at least the beginning of the season. So for now, you'll see the following lineup:

PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Steph Curry
SF: Otto Porter Jr
PF: Derrick Favors
C: Brook Lopez

With Patterson, Wiggins, Douglas and Randolph getting the lion's share of minutes off the bench. We are fully prepared to launch a small-ball lineup of Kemba/Curry/Wiggins/Otto/Favors at some point in the season to see if we can blitz teams out of the gym.

That's about all I have to say regarding our team. Any questions?

[NOLa.]

Favors is a very solid front court piece that has a tendency to foul. Will you adjust the defense to suit Favors since he plans to play a key role on your team, or do you feel about 30mpg from Favors is just enough for your bench to pick up without him?


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[false9]

With the talent you have, the excellent preseason results, and the shifts of power in the West, do you see playoffs in your immediate future?

[JNR]

Favors is a very solid front court piece that has a tendency to foul. Will you adjust the defense to suit Favors since he plans to play a key role on your team, or do you feel about 30mpg from Favors is just enough for your bench to pick up without him?


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We're really happy with Pat Patterson's game off the bench, and we feel his shooting prowess is a nice complement to the defense and rebounding Derrick provides. We think 30/18 is a pretty good split between them.

[JNR]

With the talent you have, the excellent preseason results, and the shifts of power in the West, do you see playoffs in your immediate future?

It's hard to say, but we are pleased with what we've seen so far. It really depends on how this new division shapes up. But we like our team and we think we have a shot.

[WigNosy]

If preseason performance is any indication, your team should compete for the new Northwest Division crown. Who do you see as your chief rivals in the division?

[JNR]

If preseason performance is any indication, your team should compete for the new Northwest Division crown. Who do you see as your chief rivals in the division?

I think the Jazz are a very talented team, but we should be wise not to sleep on the Thunder or Nuggets either. At the end of the day I see the Thunder and Jazz making division claims with the Nuggets and I right behind.

[Bowtothebill23]

Who, in your mind, is your #1 player on this team? Put another way, if you were able to win a championship in the next few years, who do you think is your Finals MVP?

[JNR]

Who, in your mind, is your #1 player on this team? Put another way, if you were able to win a championship in the next few years, who do you think is your Finals MVP?

It's got to be someone in the backcourt. My scoring is going to come from Kemba or Curry, so they'd probably Take home that trophy. But I think Otto is the heart of this team, if that matters.

[NickMalone77]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: If you could change anything from this past offseason, what would it be and why?

[JNR]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: If you could change anything from this past offseason, what would it be and why?

I wouldn't have wasted 10 points on insurance if I had realized that Curry would lose color by losing 2 points in free throw. I still would make the trade for the reasons I listed above.

[78#]

Do you plan to utilize the gameplan and DC used in the preseason after the outstanding results or will you tinker early in the season?

[Darth Vegito]

Can you play Kemba Walker 48 minutes per game? I have him on my fantasy team and would appreciate that.

[JNR]

Can you play Kemba Walker 48 minutes per game? I have him on my fantasy team and would appreciate that.

The JNR: I'm actually going to try something different this season. I usually give my starters tons of minutes, but this year I want to give them less and give our bench more time to shine. I'm sorry if that messes up your fantasy team.

[PaulyP]

Jon Snow, WSN -

Your projected lineup has Andrew Wiggins on the bench after he started 76 games last year. How does he feel about being on the bench especially after his replacement (Curry) has regressed in TC?

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your team is still very young, but they look like they could come into form this year. If they catch fire, are any win-now moves in your future for this year?

[JNR]

Jon Snow, WSN -

Your projected lineup has Andrew Wiggins on the bench after he started 76 games last year. How does he feel about being on the bench especially after his replacement (Curry) has regressed in TC?

JNR: Right now in his development, Wiggins' best asset is his scoring. It has always been my philosophy that players who strictly score, and also do not do so with a high enough efficiency to merit starting, come off the bench. Wiggins at his current state is most ideal as a 6th man. We're planning on giving him more minutes which should appease him.

[JNR]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Your team is still very young, but they look like they could come into form this year. If they catch fire, are any win-now moves in your future for this year?

I don't have a ton of assets to make a win-now move besides my youth, and I think most of them are ready to make a win-now push with the team. In addition, me being over the cap by so much is probably going to prevent me from making much noise. We'll see how it goes.

[JNR]

Do you plan to utilize the gameplan and DC used in the preseason after the outstanding results or will you tinker early in the season?

I actually said in my opening statement, and I quote: "Preseason went well for us this year, and although we had envisioned a different starting lineup, the amount of offensive success we had will likely influence me to use this lineup for at least the beginning of the season." So yes, I'm running with what I have for now.

[Xist2Inspire]

What are you hoping to see from all bigs not named Brook Lopez? With the shadow of Kevin Love looming large over the West, it's probably fair to say that their production will be key in determining your status as a true contender.

[JNR]

What are you hoping to see from all bigs not named Brook Lopez? With the shadow of Kevin Love looming large over the West, it's probably fair to say that their production will be key in determining your status as a true contender.

Derrick will be expected to defend and rebound. Pat will be expected to shoot well off the bench. JJ and Randolph will be expected to bring energy off the bench. I think Otto's versatility will help him be a de-facto big this season. Outside of that, we're mostly going to try and outscore teams with our backcourt.

[fearthebrow]

Random Dallas reporter:

Robert Pack was recently seen in a Dallas strip club with Antawn Jamison. Rumor is they will be joining the Mavericks broadcast team. Thoughts?

[Inner_GI]

JNR, you may claim 5 points for your presser.