2016–17 Minnesota Timberwolves season explained

Team:	Minnesota Timberwolves
End Year:	2017
Wins:	31
Losses:	51
Division:	Northwest
Division Place:	5
Conf Place:	13
Coach:	Tom Thibodeau
Gm:	Scott Layden
Owners:	Glen Taylor
Arena:	Target Center
Playoffs:	Did not qualify
Bbr Team:	MIN
Television:	Fox Sports North
Radio:	WCCO

The 2016–17 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 28th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On April 20, 2016, the Timberwolves hired Tom Thibodeau as their new head coach.^[1] On September 23, 2016, Kevin Garnett would officially retire from the NBA, thus ending his 21-year career in the process. On April 11, 2017, the Timberwolves would unveil a new logo and new uniforms to enter the next season. They improved their 29–53 output from the previous season, but missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season, tying the record for the longest playoff drought in NBA history.^[2]

Draft

See main article: 2016 NBA draft.

Standings

Conference

Game log

Pre-season

|- style="background:#bfb;"| 1| October 8| @ Miami| 109–100| Karl-Anthony Towns (20)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Kris Dunn (7)| American Airlines Arena
13,042| 1–0|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2| October 10| @ Charlotte| 86–98| Zach LaVine (30)| Cole Aldrich (9)| Kris Dunn (3)| Spectrum Center
8,424| 1–1|- style="background-color:#bfb;"| 3| October 12| Denver| 105–88| Muhammad, Towns, Wiggins (18)| Karl-Anthony Towns (8)| Ricky Rubio (8)| Pinnacle Bank Arena
7,153| 2–1|- style="background:#bfb;"| 4| October 15| @ Miami| 101–96| Andrew Wiggins (23)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (6)| KFC Yum! Center
9,672| 3–1|- style="background:#fbb;"| 5| October 16| @ Oklahoma City| 94–112| John Lucas III (18)| Aldrich, Bjelica, Hill (6)| Kris Dunn (6)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
10,489| 3–2|- style="background:#bfb;"| 6| October 19| Memphis| 101–94| Karl-Anthony Towns (31)| Gorgui Dieng (11)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Target Center
9,594| 4–2|- style="background:#bfb;"| 7| October 21| Charlotte| 109–74| Shabazz Muhammad (17)| Karl-Anthony Towns (9)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Target Center
9,708| 5–2

Regular season

|- style="background:#fcc"| 1| October 26| @ Memphis| | Andrew Wiggins (25)| Gorgui Dieng (14)| Ricky Rubio (8)| FedExForum
18,119| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc"| 2| October 29| @ Sacramento| | Andrew Wiggins (29)| Gorgui Dieng (13)| Ricky Rubio (5)| Golden 1 Center
17,608| 0–2|- style="background:#cfc"| 3| November 1| Memphis| | Zach LaVine (31)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Kris Dunn (6)| Target Center
14,774| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc"| 4| November 3| Denver| | Karl-Anthony Towns (32)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Kris Dunn (9)| Target Center
11,219| 1–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| November 5| @ Oklahoma City| | Karl-Anthony Towns (33)| Gorgui Dieng (8)| Tyus Jones (4)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 1–4|- style="background:#fcc"| 6| November 8| @ Brooklyn| | Andrew Wiggins (36)| Andrew Wiggins (8)| Tyus Jones (7)| Barclays Center
13,610| 1–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7| November 9| @ Orlando| | Zach LaVine (37)| Towns, Dieng (11)| Gorgui Dieng (7)| Amway Center
17,102| 2–5|- style="background:#fcc"| 8| November 12| L.A. Clippers| | Karl-Anthony Towns (24)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Target Center
14,494| 2–6|- style="background:#cfc"| 9| November 13| L.A. Lakers| | Andrew Wiggins (47)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Target Center
14,432| 3–6|- style="background:#fcc"| 10| November 15| Charlotte| | Andrew Wiggins (29)| Gorgui Dieng (11)| Ricky Rubio (8)| Target Center
10,349| 3–7|- style="background:#cfc"| 11| November 17| Philadelphia| | Andrew Wiggins (35)| Dieng, Towns, Wiggins (10)| Ricky Rubio (5)| Target Center
16,866| 4–7|- style="background:#fcc"| 12| November 19| @ Memphis| | Zach LaVine (22)| Gorgui Dieng (11)| Ricky Rubio (7)| FedExForum
17,112| 4–8|- style="background:#fcc"| 13| November 21| Boston| | Karl-Anthony Towns (27)| Karl-Anthony Towns (18)| Ricky Rubio (9)| Target Center
13,167| 4–9|- style="background:#fcc"| 14| November 23| @ New Orleans| | Zach LaVine (26)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Rubio, Dieng (5)| Smoothie King Center
15,555| 4–10|- style="background:#cfc"| 15| November 25| @ Phoenix| | Andrew Wiggins (25)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Rubio, Towns (4)| Talking Stick Resort Arena
16,728| 5–10|- style="background:#fcc"| 16| November 26| @ Golden State| | Zach LaVine (31)| Karl-Anthony Towns (9)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Oracle Arena
19,596| 5–11|- style="background:#fcc"| 17| November 28| Utah| | Zach LaVine (28)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Zach LaVine (8)| Target Center
9,384| 5–12|- style="background:#fcc"| 18| November 30| New York| | Karl-Anthony Towns (47)| Karl-Anthony Towns (18)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Target Center
13,987| 5–13|-style="background:#fcc"| 19| December 2| @ New York| | Zach LaVine (23)| Cole Aldrich (12)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,812| 5–14|-style="background:#cfc"| 20| December 3| @ Charlotte| | Andrew Wiggins (29)| Karl-Anthony Towns (15)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Spectrum Center
16,982| 6–14|- style="background:#fcc"| 21| December 6| San Antonio| | Zach LaVine (25)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Target Center
12,585| 6–15|- style="background:#fcc"| 22| December 8| @ Toronto| | Zach LaVine (29)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Zach LaVine (6)| Air Canada Centre
19,800| 6–16|- style="background:#fcc"| 23| December 9| Detroit| | Andrew Wiggins (16)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Target Center
14,109| 6–17|- style="background:#fcc"| 24| December 11| Golden State| | Wiggins, Towns, LaVine (25)| Karl-Anthony Towns (18)| Ricky Rubio (6)| Target Center
18,452| 6−18|- style="background:#cfc"| 25| December 13| @ Chicago| | Zach LaVine (24)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (10)| United Center
21,146| 7–18|- style="background:#fcc"| 26| December 17| Houston| | Karl-Anthony Towns (41)| Karl-Anthony Towns (15)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Target Center
14,689| 7–19|- style="background:#cfc"| 27| December 19| Phoenix| | Karl-Anthony Towns (28)| Karl-Anthony Towns (15)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Target Center
12,008| 8–19|- style="background:#cfc"| 28| December 21| @ Atlanta| | Andrew Wiggins (19)| Karl-Anthony Towns (18)| Ricky Rubio (8)| Philips Arena
17,578| 9–19|- style="background:#fcc"| 29| December 23| Sacramento| | Zach LaVine (40)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Ricky Rubio (8)| Target Center
13,288| 9–20|- style="background:#fcc"| 30| December 25| @ Oklahoma City| | Karl-Anthony Towns (26)| Karl-Anthony Towns (8)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 9–21|- style="background:#cfc"| 31| December 26| Atlanta| | Karl-Anthony Towns (22)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Target Center
15,617| 10–21|- style="background:#fcc"| 32| December 28| @ Denver| | Andrew Wiggins (25)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Pepsi Center
15,093| 10–22|- style="background:#cfc"| 33| December 30| Milwaukee| | Andrew Wiggins (31)| Karl-Anthony Towns (16)| Ricky Rubio (9)| Target Center
17,779| 11–22|- style="background:#fcc;"| 34| January 1| Portland| | Andrew Wiggins (24)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Towns, Rubio (6)| Target Center
15,804| 11–23|- style="background:#fcc;"| 35| January 3| @ Philadelphia| | Zach LaVine (28)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Towns, Rubio (5)| Wells Fargo Center
17,124| 11–24|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36| January 6| @ Washington| | Andrew Wiggins (41)| Gorgui Dieng (11)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Verizon Center
18,686| 11–25|- style="background:#fcc;"| 37| January 7| Utah| | Zach LaVine (24)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Target Center
13,945| 11–26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38| January 9| Dallas| | Karl-Anthony Towns (34)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Ricky Rubio (15)| Target Center
9,625| 12–26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 39| January 11| Houston| | Andrew Wiggins (28)| Karl-Anthony Towns (18)| Ricky Rubio (17)| Target Center
9,625| 13–26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 40| January 13| Oklahoma City| | Karl-Anthony Towns (29)| Karl-Anthony Towns (17)| Ricky Rubio (14)| Target Center
16,644| 14–26|- style="background:#fcc;"| 41| January 15| @ Dallas| | Gorgui Dieng (21)| Karl-Anthony Towns (9)| Ricky Rubio (10)| American Airlines Center
19,655| 14–27|-style="background:#fcc;"| 42| January 17| @ San Antonio| | Karl-Anthony Towns (27)| Karl-Anthony Towns (16)| Ricky Rubio (14)| AT&T Center
18,418| 14–28|-style="background:#cfc;"| 43| January 19| @ LA Clippers| | Karl-Anthony Towns (37)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Karl-Anthony Towns (5)| Staples Center
19,060| 15–28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44| January 22| Denver| | Karl-Anthony Towns (32)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Kris Dunn (9)| Target Center
12,788| 16–28|- style="background:#cfc;"| 45| January 24| @ Phoenix| | Andrew Wiggins (31)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Talking Stick Resort Arena
17,241| 17–28|- style="background:#fcc;"| 46| January 26| Indiana| | Karl-Anthony Towns (23)| Karl-Anthony Towns (10)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Target Center
14,862| 17–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 47| January 28| Brooklyn| | Karl-Anthony Towns (37)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Kris Dunn (7)| Target Center
14,798| 18–29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 48| January 30| Orlando| | Andrew Wiggins (27)| Gorgui Dieng (14)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Target Center
11,124| 19–29|- style= "background:#fcc;"| 49| February 1| @ Cleveland| | Karl-Anthony Towns (26)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (14)| Quicken Loans Arena
20,562| 19–30|- style= "background:#fcc;"| 50| February 3| @ Detroit| | Karl-Anthony Towns (24)| Gorgui Dieng (12)| Ricky Rubio (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
16,934| 19–31|- style= "background:#fcc;"| 51| February 4| Memphis| | Karl-Anthony Towns (27)| Karl-Anthony Towns (16)| Rubio, Jones (6)| Target Center
15,081| 19–32|- style= "background:#fcc;"| 52| February 6| Miami| | Karl-Anthony Towns (35)| Karl-Anthony Towns (8)| Ricky Rubio (13)| Target Center
12,502| 19–33|- style= "background:#cfc;"| 53| February 8| Toronto| | Andrew Wiggins (31)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Target Center
13,832| 20–33|- style= "background:#fcc;"| 54| February 10| New Orleans| | Karl-Anthony Towns (36)| Dieng, Towns (8)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Target Center
16,093| 20–34|- style= "background:#cfc;"| 55| February 12| Chicago| | Andrew Wiggins (27)| Gorgui Dieng (13)| Ricky Rubio (11)| Target Center
19,356| 21–34|- style= "background:#fcc;"| 56| February 14| Cleveland| | Andrew Wiggins (41)| Gorgui Dieng (10)| Ricky Rubio (16)| Target Center
17,738| 21–35|- style= "background:#cfc;"| 57| February 15| @ Denver| | Andrew Wiggins (40)| Karl-Anthony Towns (19)| Rubio, Dunn (5)| Pepsi Center
13,924| 22–35|- style= "background:#cfc;"| 58| February 24| Dallas| | Andrew Wiggins (27)| Karl-Anthony Towns (18)| Ricky Rubio (14)| Target Center
15,948| 23–35|- style="background:#fcc;"| 59| February 25| @ Houston| | Karl-Anthony Towns (37)| Karl-Anthony Towns (22)| Ricky Rubio (11)| Toyota Center
18,055| 23–36|-style="background:#cfc;"| 60| February 27| @ Sacramento| | Karl-Anthony Towns (29)| Karl-Anthony Towns (17)| Ricky Rubio (11)| Golden 1 Center
17,608| 24–36|- style="background:#cfc;"| 61| March 1| @ Utah| | Karl-Anthony Towns (21)| Karl-Anthony Towns (15)| Ricky Rubio (9)| Vivint Smart Home Arena
19,590| 25–36|- style="background:#fcc;"| 62| March 4| @ San Antonio| | Karl-Anthony Towns (24)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (10)| AT&T Center
18,418| 25–37|- style="background:#cfc;"| 63| March 8| L. A. Clippers| | Karl-Anthony Towns (29)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Target Center
14,933| 26–37|- style="background:#cfc;"| 64| March 10| Golden State| | Andrew Wiggins (24)| Nemanja Bjelica (12)| Ricky Rubio (13)| Target Center
20,412| 27−37|- style="background:#fcc;"| 65| March 11| @ Milwaukee| | Karl-Anthony Towns (35)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (8)| Bradley Center
18,717| 27–38|- style="background:#cfc;"| 66| March 13| Washington| | Karl-Anthony Towns (39)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Ricky Rubio (19)| Target Center
15,747| 28–38|- style="background:#fcc;"| 67| March 15| @ Boston| | Ricky Rubio (23)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (7)| TD Garden
18,624| 28–39|- style="background:#fcc;"| 68| March 17| @ Miami| | Karl-Anthony Towns (31)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Ricky Rubio (6)| American Airlines Arena
19,600| 28–40|- style="background:#fcc;"| 69| March 19| @ New Orleans| | Karl-Anthony Towns (33)| Gorgui Dieng (10)| Ricky Rubio (14)| Smoothie King Center
16,111| 28–41|- style="background:#fcc;"| 70| March 21| San Antonio| | Karl-Anthony Towns (25)| Karl-Anthony Towns (14)| Ricky Rubio (7)| Target Center
13,742| 28–42|- style="background:#fcc;"| 71| March 24| @ L.A. Lakers| | Andrew Wiggins (36)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Ricky Rubio (15)| Staples Center
18,997| 28–43|- style="background:#fcc;"| 72| March 25| @ Portland| | Andrew Wiggins (20)| Gorgui Dieng (7)| Rubio, Jones (4)| Moda Center
19,580| 28–44|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73| March 28| @ Indiana| | Karl-Anthony Towns (37)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
17,534| 29–44|- style="background:#cfc;"| 74| March 30| L.A. Lakers| | Ricky Rubio (33)| Gorgui Dieng (15)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Target Center
18,179| 30–44|- style="background:#fcc;"| 75| April 1| Sacramento| | Andrew Wiggins (32)| Karl-Anthony Towns (11)| Ricky Rubio (13)| Target Center
18,960| 30–45|- style="background:#cfc;"| 76| April 3| Portland| | Karl-Anthony Towns (34)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (16)| Target Center
14,677| 31–45|- style="background:#fcc;"| 77| April 4| @ Golden State| | Muhammad, Wiggins (24)| Shabazz Muhammad (11)| Ricky Rubio (5)| Oracle Arena
19,596| 31−46|- style="background:#fcc;"| 78| April 6| @ Portland| | Andrew Wiggins (36)| Karl-Anthony Towns (16)| Ricky Rubio (5)| Moda Center
19,393| 31–47|- style="background:#fcc;"| 79| April 7| @ Utah| | Karl-Anthony Towns (32)| Karl-Anthony Towns (13)| Ricky Rubio (12)| Vivint Smart Home Arena
19,911| 31–48|- style="background:#fcc;"| 80| April 9| @ L.A. Lakers| | Andrew Wiggins (41)| Karl-Anthony Towns (21)| Ricky Rubio (11)| Staples Center
18,997| 31–49|- style="background:#fcc;"| 81| April 11| Oklahoma City| | Karl-Anthony Towns (26)| Karl-Anthony Towns (12)| Ricky Rubio (10)| Target Center
19,356| 31–50|- style="background:#fcc;"| 82| April 12| @ Houston| | Karl-Anthony Towns (28)| Karl-Anthony Towns (21)| Kris Dunn (16)| Toyota Center
18,055| 31–51

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
	SF	82	82	3,048	328	189	82	30	1,933	37.2	4.0	2.3	1.0	.4	23.6
	C	82	82	3,030	1,007	220	56	103	2,061	37.0	12.3	2.7	.7	1.3	25.1
	PF	82	82	2,653	647	158	88	95	816	32.4	7.9	1.9	1.1	1.2	10.0
	PG	78	7	1,333	166	188	78	36	293	17.1	2.1	2.4	1.0	.5	3.8
	SF	78	1	1,516	220	35	22	6	772	19.4	2.8	.4	.3	.1	9.9
	PG	75	75	2,469	305	682	128	10	836	32.9	4.1	9.1	1.7	.1	11.1
	PF	65	1	1,190	244	79	40	20	403	18.3	3.8	1.2	.6	.3	6.2
	C	62	0	531	158	25	25	23	105	8.6	2.5	.4	.4	.4	1.7
	PG	60	0	774	67	156	48	5	209	12.9	1.1	2.6	.8	.1	3.5
	SG	47	47	1,749	160	139	41	10	889	37.2	3.4	3.0	.9	.2	18.9
	SG	47	33	1,030	99	45	22	23	197	21.9	2.1	1.0	.5	.5	4.2
	PF	18	0	135	33	7	8	7	63	7.5	1.8	.4	.4	.4	3.5
^†	PF	13	0	222	20	11	13	2	45	17.1	1.5	.8	1.0	.2	3.5
	C	7	0	47	14	0	1	0	12	6.7	2.0	.0	.1	.0	1.7
^†	SG	6	0	67	10	5	0	0	21	11.2	1.7	.8	.0	.0	3.5
	PG	5	0	11	0	1	2	0	2	2.2	.0	.2	.4	.0	.4

Transactions

See main article: List of 2016–17 NBA season transactions.

Free agents

Additions

Player	Signed	Former Team
Brandon Rush^[4]	1-year contract worth $3.5 million	Golden State Warriors
Cole Aldrich^[5]	3-year contract worth $22 million	Los Angeles Clippers
Jordan Hill^[6]	2-year contract worth $8 million	Indiana Pacers
John Lucas III^[7]	1-year contract worth $635,753	Piratas de Quebradillas
Lance Stephenson^[8] ^[9]	10-day contract worth $72,193	New Orleans Pelicans
Omri Casspi^[10]	1-year contract worth $185,710	New Orleans Pelicans

Subtractions

Player	Reason left	New team
John Lucas III^[11]	Waived
Lance Stephenson^[12]	3-year contract worth $12 million	Indiana Pacers

Notes and References

1. Web site: Krawczynski. Jon. Timberwolves hire Thibodeau as coach, president. NBA.com. May 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160702133934/http://www.nba.com/2016/news/04/20/tom-thibodeau-minnesota-timberwolves-report-ap.ap/index.html. July 2, 2016. dead.
2. Web site: Schuhmann. John. With addition of Jimmy Butler, young Wolves get needed leader to help franchise end playoff drought. NBA.com. National Basketball Association.
3. Web site: Timberwolves sign Gorgui Dieng to contract extension. nba.com/timberwolves. October 31, 2016. October 31, 2016.
4. Web site: Timberwolves sign guard/forward Brandon Rush. nba.com/timberwolves. July 8, 2016. July 8, 2016.
5. Web site: Timberwolves sign center Cole Aldrich. nba.com/timberwolves. July 13, 2016. July 13, 2016.
6. Web site: Timberwolves sign forward/center Jordan Hill. nba.com/timberwolves. July 20, 2016. July 20, 2016.
7. Web site: Timberwolves announce 2016-17 training camp roster. nba.com/timberwolves. September 26, 2016. September 26, 2016.
8. Web site: Timberwolves sign guard Lance Stephenson to 10-day contract. nba.com/timberwolves. February 8, 2017. February 8, 2017.
9. Web site: Timberwolves sign guard Lance Stephenson to second 10-day contract. nba.com/timberwolves. March 8, 2017. March 8, 2017.
10. Web site: Timberwolves sign Omri Casspi. nba.com/timberwolves. March 20, 2017. March 20, 2017.
11. Web site: Timberwolves waive John Lucas III. nba.com/timberwolves. February 3, 2017. January 7, 2017.
12. Web site: Pacers sign Lance Stephenson. nba.com/pacers. March 30, 2017. March 30, 2017.