Part 4/10:
For Minnesota, experiencing a rapid decline from the heights of a Western Conference finalist to a mediocre team is particularly difficult to swallow. Just seven months earlier, fans and players alike believed that they were on the brink of something special. The first three games of their playoff series were incredibly close, indicating the potential that lay within, even though they ultimately lost in five games.
The Timberwolves believed that they needed to make the trade to rebuild and reconfigure the team for sustained success. The addition of Julius Randle and Dante DiVincenzo was meant to maintain, if not improve, their competitive standing. However, this approach has not translated into the results they anticipated.