Part 2/6:
At the end of the previous season, excitement bristled throughout the Timberwolves' fan base. Edwards was hitting his stride, and the team finished with one of its most successful runs in two decades, finishing with 56 wins and a trip to the Conference Finals. This sentiment fueled optimism for the franchise’s future, with many believing that they ranked among the brightest teams in the league, second only to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The team’s management added to the hope by making bold moves in the 2023 NBA Draft, successfully acquiring Rob Dillingham, a promising talent, albeit at the cost of additional future first-round picks. Despite the risk involved in trading away valuable assets, the initial belief was that the Timberwolves were on the right path.