It’s indeed possible to feel sympathy for the Minnesota Timberwolves. As Raptors fans, we’ve heard versions of their story before — troubled management, a beleaguered coach, a disgruntled star, an underachieving franchise. Yes, we know what that feels like.
Now that the Raptors are, if not the toast of the league then at least invited to the fancy dinner party, I’ll be honest: I no longer want to relate to these other snake-bitten teams. An association now with, sure, the Timberwolves brings to mind only those aforementioned painful memories. As Kawhi Leonard said when he was introduced to Toronto: we’re looking to today and the future now — living in the present, and only gazing ahead.