2010-2011
Finish: 35-47

What went…
We all have a friend like Javijoe. You know the type: you can't find him when you want him but the minute you break out the drugs he magically appears. Joe is like that with trades. He hasn't written team news in years. Talking to him ICQ is a frustrating experience as he vanishes mid-sentence. But somehow, he has uncanny sonar for trades and when the team comes to execute a big deal, he's there. In the past, all the dick swingin wheelin' dealin' made the Minnesota Timberwolves a constantly evolving beast and one of the most feared teams in the NLL. Even as super trade disciple Boyd has tried his best to emulate Javijoe's penchant for trading his entire team three times per season, no one can match the Texan's mojo.

But something went wrong this season. The juju wore off and despite the typical trade bonanza in the Great White North, the Timberwolves looked more like pups than fearsome warriors. In this special edition team by team, we will examine the moves Javijoe made and determine just what went wrong.

1) The LA Lakers send Al Thornton and D.J. White to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Darko Milicic to the LA Lakers. The LA Lakers send a 2nd-Rounder (Orl) to the Minnesota Timberwolves. - The trade bonanza didn't get going until December as Javi "What's an MLE?" Joe was quiet during the fall. In this first deal, he sent off Milicic, who finally showed some potential as a starting center for one fast fading guy in Thornton and another guy who never plays. Score one for the Lakers here.

2. The Indiana Pacers send Elton Brand, Andre Miller, Matt Barnes, Kris Humphries and D.J. Augustin to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Tim Duncan, Jason Terry, Quinton Ross, Luther Head, Reyshawn Terry and DeMarre Carroll to the Indiana Pacers- Now we're talking Javijoe. Nothing like sending away SIX PLAYERS in one deal. We were worried about you. Put away the defibrillator. So let's see. He swaps one overpaid big man for another. Swaps a fast, aging PG for a slow, aging PG. Trades a middling swingman for another. But he gets the up-and-coming Humphries and Augustin in this deal. The edge goes to Joe for ditching Duncan's salary in the face of a losing season and gets two decent young guys in return. But of course there is more trading to come....

3. The Memphis Grizzlies send Brandon Roy and Brandan Wright to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Dan Gadzuric, Kris Humphries, Danilo Gallinari, Jeff Teague and Jack McClinton to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Minnesota Timberwolves send a 2nd-Rounder (Orl) to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Memphis Grizzlies trade -5 GM points.The Minnesota Timberwolves receive 5 GM points.- Brandon Roy's knee became Javijoe's Achilles heel. Even brokedown players can find new homes in the NLL. Roy just retired. Bum deal for Minny and probably one of the reasons they sucked last season.

4. The Miami Heat send Brian Skinner, DeShawn Stevenson and Earl Barron to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Andre Miller to the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat send a 2nd-Rounder (Chi) to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Miami Heat trade -4 GM points.The Minnesota Timberwolves receive 4 GM points.- Does this deal even matter? 

5. The Minnesota Timberwolves send D.J. White to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Mario Chalmers to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Minnesota Timberwolves send a 2nd-Rounder (Chi) to the Toronto Raptors. The Minnesota Timberwolves receive 1 GM points. The Toronto Raptors trade -1 GM points. - Nice deal for Minnesota. They get an inexpensive, starting quality PG.

6. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Al Thornton to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Rasual Butler and DeJuan Blair to the Minnesota Timberwolves. - Guys really overvalue Thornton in this league. Great deal for Minnesota, Blair is cheap and loaded with potential (though a little short).

7. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Elton Brand and Matt Barnes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder send Sasha Vujacic, Raymond Felton and Randy Foye to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves trade -6 GM points.The Oklahoma City Thunder receive 6 GM points.- It's the meeting of the minds. I'm surprised they didn't just exchange their entire rosters here. Not sure if this deal makes sense for Minnesota as they just picked up Chalmers and Augustin. A healthy Brand combined with Brook Lopez would have been much more effective.