The Runner up

For those of you who reading this I think it's fair to say that you are true basketball fans. You're reading about the Timberwolves in mid June so I don't think it's a stretch. This isn't only for true fans but will hopefully at least be of much interest to those who are.

In one particular way the Wolves have found themselves to be the runner up as a result of the decisions of a certain NBA elite player. And yes I say decision intentionally because it's the one and only Lebron James.

For some reason I've never heard this angle taken by fans of our local team, but it's certainly possible I missed it. If that's the case, hit me with the link to that post or posts!

How has our favorite ball squad been the runner up to his choices? It may be obvious but since I don't want to assume too heavily on hardcore fandom I will lay out plain. Sorry to those of you who have already connected the dots, but thanks for stopping by and please check back soon!

Anyways, let's get on with it!
Nearly 6 years ago Lebron did the infamous decision to go play in Miami. Well in the wake of that the Heat had to clear some salary space and the Timberwolves were the primary benefactors of that with a trade for Michael Beasley. He's a head case and doesn't play defense but he can score with the best of em. Adding him to the team was a good idea at the team, regardless of how little it benefitted over time. For two second round picks I would never object to that kind of trade happening in the future, for a different player. I would actually call it one of the best moves that David Kahn made during his tenure.

The other second place that they were able to make happen was the Love for Wiggins trade. There's little doubt that the Timberwolves got the better end of the trade and the Cavs are now stuck with Love because of what they gave up to get him. At the time K Love was the second best player in the teams history but I don't think it's a stretch to say that both Wiggins, Towns and maybe even Lavine will be jumping him really soon, if they haven't already.

The regimes have changed so it's probably a coincidence that the Timberwolves have benefited so greatly each time LBJ has changed teams but since he's the de facto leader of the Cavaliers organization, maybe he feels some sympathy for one of the organizations that has had it as bad or worse than his home town five. That's a long shot at best but I find it to be an interesting possibility all the same.

So while he's been to the finals six straight years, it's very possible that his return to Cleveland has left us in the spot to supplant a couple Western Conference powerhouses and go from the runner up in the race to get good players to runners up in the playoffs and potentially even become the champs. That's years away, at best but it's a positive trend and I can't get enough of it!

What say you?

Anyone think the Timberwolves have been able to benefit more from the decisions of a player that hasn't played for the home town team?