Minnesota Timberwolves 2019-2020 Preseason Presser

[JNR]

Lights out. Projector whirrs to life and shows scenes from last season. A dramatic piano begins playing in the background. Andrew Wiggins hugs Otto Porter, Jr. as Ish Smith cheers.

"The Timberwolves have finally done it! They're headed to the PBSL Finals!"

The music becomes orchestral as we see a slow shot of James Harden and Paul George dapping each other up.

"Now the Orlando Magic are the only thing standing in the way of basketball immortality."

DeAndre Jordan wins a tip-off against Brook Lopez.

"Six games played and nothing's been decided. It all comes down to this."

A very brief pause with nothing on the screen. The music swells, then suddenly cuts out. Then we see Andrew Wiggins hang his head.

"They've done it! The Orlando Magic are PBSL champions!"

One last shot of the Timberwolves bench, dejected but proud.

"Don't overlook the fight the Western Conference Champions had though. This team is a force, and they'll be back."

The lights come back up and The JNR stands in front of the podium. He is head to toe in Western Conference Champion memorabilia.

The JNR: Too much?

He smiles.

The JNR: Didn't think so.

Welcome to another season of Timberwolves basketball. Last year was our most successful season to date. We finished first in the division, first in the conference, and we made it to the PBSL Finals for the first time. Though we were ultimately unsuccessful in our bid to win a championship, I am incredibly proud of our squad for fighting hard every step of the way, persevering through injuries.

I looked at our finances and our team build this season and I was tempted to hit the reset button. To stay under the cap, avoid the tax, and rest on our laurels as one-time Western Conference champ. I started to field offers for everyone on the team, looking to collect assets and take a few seasons off from competing. But a funny thing happened during the offseason. Andrew Wiggins and Otto Porter, Jr. visited me together. They came into my office, and Andrew said, "Are you quitting on us?" I told him I hadn't decided yet, and he said, "I hope you don't. Because we're just getting started."

It only then occurred to me how young my two star players are. Otto is 26. Andrew is 24 for another five months. They're two of the best players I've ever had on my team, and one of them can't even rent a car yet. I would be crazy to give up on that just because of some financial trouble.

So I listened. I brought back Brook Lopez. I traded Pat Patterson and a first round pick for a defensive center. I brought in Sean Kilpatrick for the MLE. And I filled the team with some young, eager contributors. We're a little over the tax, and the cap man will be calling my name, but I say let him. Because this team was one game away from the biggest prize in basketball last year, and I think that deserves another chance.

The starting lineup looks to be

C: Dewayne Dedmon
PF: Otto Porter, Jr.
SF: Andrew Wiggins
SG: Sean Kilpatrick
PG: Ish Smith

With Brook Lopez, Charles Hepburn, Jordan Adams and Shelvin Mack being my main bench contributors. I think this team could be nearly as good as last year's. The rest of the conference has gotten better, so I can't guarantee a repeat performance. But I think we'll be right in the thick of things this year.

Any questions?

[garbageman]

Are you aware that most major rental companies will rent cars to folks aged 21-25, but they just tack on an extra daily surcharge due to increased risk of accident?

If not, what kind of cars can we expect Andrew Wiggins to rent this season knowing that he can, in fact, rent cars at most locations operated by Advantage, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty?

[JNR]

The JNR: I legit had no idea. The "have to be 25 to rent a car" is one of my favorite lines to use, and I had no idea it was inaccurate.

I apologize to everyone here as well as everyone I've ever told that to who believed me. I never meant to hurt anyone.

Wiggins: I LIKE THE KIA SOUL

[ballsohard]

Is this the year you fade from the reverse curse and start using team confidence ?

[JNR]

Is this the year you fade from the reverse curse and start using team confidence ?

The JNR: Probably not.

[NOLa.]

It was a big offseason story for your team: Wiggins and Porter on the block. Why was this contemplated by the front office? How serious did it get?

[JNR]

It was a big offseason story for your team: Wiggins and Porter on the block. Why was this contemplated by the front office? How serious did it get?

The JNR: As I stated before, we were looking at our financials. We've been a tax offender for four years now, and will be for a fifth. We've been able to remain afloat for now, but it's becoming harder and harder to fight it off. So we started thinking about making moves to get out of the tax. And we were very close. We had a deal for each player in place, and all we needed was my go-ahead...and then those two players walked into my office. I couldn't pull the trigger. And I'm incredibly happy that I couldn't.

[IamQuailman]

If you could have 1 redo during your off-season, is there anything you would change?

[Conroy]

to piggyback of of Quailman's question if you had 1 redo during the finals, is there anything you would have done differently?

[JNR]

If you could have 1 redo during your off-season, is there anything you would change?

The JNR: I'd probably keep Alvin Pack. I can't guarantee he would've had the same blossoming here, but that sort of young talent would be nice to have. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with our off-season.

[JNR]

to piggyback of of Quailman's question if you had 1 redo during the finals, is there anything you would have done differently?

I wouldn't have requested Doug sim quarter by quarter. It took three sims for the Magic to beat me. #neverforget

[IamQuailman]

to piggyback of of Quailman's question if you had 1 redo during the finals, is there anything you would have done differently?

I wouldn't have requested Doug sim quarter by quarter. It took three sims for the Magic to beat me. #neverforget

[WigNosy]

Brook Lopez appears to be letting father time catch up to him. What will be his role this season?

[JNR]

Brook Lopez appears to be letting father time catch up to him. What will be his role this season?

The JNR: He'll be our primary big man off the bench. We're still very confident he can produce.

[kucoach7]

Do you feel any threat from the Nuggets and Blazers for the division crown or do you think your two young studs are just too much to handle?

[Bowtothebill23]

You've gone on the record before talking about how much more difficult it is to gameplan in the playoffs as opposed to the regular season. How much different was gameplanning in the Finals as opposed to the rest of the playoffs?

Also, with this being your 30th season, if you could add one player from any time in Timberwolves history who didn't make an All Star game to your team this season, who would it be?

[JNR]

Do you feel any threat from the Nuggets and Blazers for the division crown or do you think your two young studs are just too much to handle?

The JNR: I feel threats from both teams. I don't think a division win is a foregone conclusion. In fact, I think the Trailblazers are the favorite to win the division. I do think we will be able to compete though.

[JNR]

You've gone on the record before talking about how much more difficult it is to gameplan in the playoffs as opposed to the regular season. How much different was gameplanning in the Finals as opposed to the rest of the playoffs?

Also, with this being your 30th season, if you could add one player from any time in Timberwolves history who didn't make an All Star game to your team this season, who would it be?

The JNR: For most of the playoffs, including the finals, I let my lineup ride. I made a few changes in the finals but for the most part I trusted my guys to go out there and get the job done.

That second question is a great one. I think I'd choose Ervin Johnson for defensive depth and comic relief.

[Xist2Inspire]

Random Reporter: How liberating was it it for you to finally break through and win the West? How much did that experience change the way you operated this offseason?

[JNR]

Random Reporter: How liberating was it it for you to finally break through and win the West? How much did that experience change the way you operated this offseason?

The JNR: I won't lie, it felt great. I've gotten close before, so it was nice to finally represent the conference. It didn't change much for me this offseason, except that I was more willing to stay in tax-land to get another chance at winning it all.