Minnesota Timberwolves · Franchise era 4 of 6
The Love rebuild: the Minnesota Timberwolves story
Franchise era
2007–08—2014–15
The Love rebuild
Minnesota Timberwolves
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.
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.
05Contender completedJuly 31, 2007BOS⇄MINGarnett to BostonBoston added Kevin Garnett to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Minnesota received five players, cash and two pieces of first-round control.9 assets · 2 outcomes＋
The original receipt
Boston Celtics received
- • Kevin Garnett
Minnesota Timberwolves received
- • Al Jefferson
- • Gerald Green
- • Ryan Gomes
- • Sebastian Telfair
- • Theo Ratliff
- • Boston's 2009 first
- • Return of Minnesota's conditional first
- • Cash considerations
Boston won the championship in its first season together and helped define the modern superteam era.
Open full trade tree →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