Minnesota Timberwolves · Franchise era 4 of 6
The Love rebuild: the Minnesota Timberwolves story
The story in one sentence
Love became an elite rebounder and shooter, but Minnesota could not build a playoff team before trading him for another top pick.
Production without enough winning
Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and Nikola Peković gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for towns, wiggins and the butler flash.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2007–08
What came before
Contract pressure and failed roster moves dismantled the 2004 team, eventually forcing the franchise's defining star to Boston.
- 05TradeJuly 31, 2007
July 31, 2007
The deal that completed Boston's Big Three
The Celtics condensed nearly every rebuilding asset into a title-ready core; Minnesota committed to a full reset around Al Jefferson.
To BOS
To MINDraftPICKround asset+5 assetsGarnett to BostonBOS receives Kevin GarnettMIN receives Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes + 5 more9 original assets · 2 outcomes tracedOpen trade → - 31TradeAugust 23, 2014
August 23, 2014
The trade that completed Cleveland's new Big Three
LeBron James's return changed Cleveland's timeline overnight; the Cavaliers converted young upside into an established All-NBA forward.
To CLETo MIN20151STround assetKevin Love to ClevelandCLE receives Kevin LoveMIN receives Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, 2015 protected 1st-round pick4 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → After 2014–15
What came next
Butler ended a 13-year playoff drought, but the uneasy partnership dissolved almost as quickly as it formed.
The core