Flip Saunders Says Kevin Garnett Will Be A Starter Next Season For T’Wolves

USA Today

The Minnesota Timberwolves are putting together a promising young team with a potentially bright future on the horizon. Although all eyes will be rookie Karl-Anthony Towns and sophomore star Andrew Wiggins next season, head coach Flip Saunders still intends to put some experienced players on the floor for Minnesota right out of the gate.

In an interview with Zach Lowe of Grantland, Saunders admitted that veteran Kevin Garnett will be a starter next season:

He’s gonna start. That’s who he is. KG is a starter. He’s the best power forward on our team, actually. No one rebounds better. He’s the best help defender. No one communicates better. He knows the offense, and he can pass it.

There’s no better way for Towns to learn the ropes on the NBA level than learning from one of the best forwards to have ever played the game. At 39, Garnett doesn’t have many years left in the league, but will be a great mentor for a young player that could end up being a cornerstone of franchise in the coming years.

The combination of Wiggins and Towns could be a game changer for the Timberwolves. Minnesota struggled for years after Garnett’s departure to the Boston Celtics in 2007. The addition of Wiggins in last year’s NBA Draft was a step in the right direction for the struggling franchise and bringing in Towns may be the missing piece to the puzzle.

With Garnett recently signing a two-year deal with the team, the Timberwolves brass will have the right leader in the locker room and on the basketball floor to help develop these two promising young players. Only time will tell if both Wiggins and Towns can be players to build a franchise around, but it seems safe to assume the team hasn’t gotten off to a good start.