You won’t find a non-playoff team in the NBA that faces more pressure ahead of the league’s 2 PM CT Trade Deadline on Thursday than the Minnesota Timberwolves do.
Despite the Houston Rockets giving the Timberwolves their best shot with an active 20-game losing streak, Minnesota stands alone, looking up at everyone from the bottom of the NBA standings at 10-32.
Unlike other Tankathon participants — such as the Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers — the Timberwolves are facing the looming sale of their franchise, the ticking patience of their brightest star since Kevin Garnett got shipped out to Boston, and the imminent return of two integral pieces to the puzzle that is their future in D’Angelo Russell (left knee surgery) and Malik Beasley (12-game league suspension).