Every NBA team spends the whole season building a championship-caliber roster. It’s not uncommon for a club to open the season as heavy favorites to win their division and go far into the playoffs after assembling a squad full of talented individuals.



Less than three months remain in the regular <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-small-forwards-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221202-SPD-3219.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022-23 NBA season</a>, and thus far it has been wonderful. Some teams have underperformed both surprisingly and predictably, and it’s up to them to figure out whether they can make a comeback.



Nowadays, even modest slipups aren’t really so insignificant. While there is still much time this season and any team may make a turnaround, these three teams will be taking a long, hard look at themselves to see if they can fix their flaws this year.



<h2>3. Golden State Warriors</h2>



It’s understandable that the reigning champions, who have an aging core, would take it easy during the regular season. However, the team’s 6-18 road record, 17th-ranked offense, and negative point differential beggar belief. Sure, the Warriors weren’t doing so hot before Curry’s recent absence or Andrew Wiggins’.



The Warriors’ starting lineup has been dominating all season long, and the team’s recent showings against the Celtics, provide cause for confidence that they can still compete with top-tier contenders. No one knows whether the bench can carry any significant load, and the defense is no longer a reliable safety net. The Warriors have very little room to make mistakes now, yet they continue to do it nevertheless.



<h2>2. Atlanta Hawks</h2>



While the Hawks’ current five-game winning streak is encouraging, this season has still fallen well short of the lofty expectations that accompanied the deal for Dejounte Murray. The defense has become better, but the offense is in danger of being ranked among the worst in the league because of its reliance on a small number of players.



Nobody is moving, neither the ball nor the player. Trae Young and Murray engage in a futile charade of who will take the lead, with Young’s 3-point percentage being over 35 percent due solely to a recent hot run. For a club that just traded Kevin Huerter and desperately needs shooting, it just won’t cut it. Atlanta is fourth in the NBA in 3-point percentage, behind only Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles.



<h2>1. Minnesota Timberwolves</h2>



The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-teams-in-2022-23-nba-season-so-far-20221210-SPD-3243.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timberwolves</a> had been predicted to win 50 games and finish in the playoff’s top four. They risked a lot to acquire Rudy Gobert, but they must have thought they could contend for a conference championship in the West Conference to make such a move. There was no intention of this lasting very long.



After coming so close to winning a playoff series last year, this group will have a difficult time making the playoffs this year. Although it was the defense that was expected to improve significantly, they have actually regressed since last year.

Top 3 worst performing NBA teams in 2022-23

Top 3 worst performing NBA teams in 2022-23 - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jazz-get-numerous-players-in-exchange-for-rudy-gobert-from-timberwolves-1924-20220701-SPD-1924.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karl-Anthony Towns</a> has agreed to an additional six-year contract deal with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-jazzs-rudy-gobert-connected-to-timberwolves-despite-interest-from-bulls-1708-20220622-SPD-1708.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minnesota Timberwolves</a>, keeping him with the team until 2028. To say that the Timberwolves have made a substantial commitment is an understatement. 



Over the course of four seasons beginning in 2024-25, Towns will earn $224 million, after the $70 million he’s scheduled to earn in the next two seasons. A formal agreement was reached early on Friday morning. In accordance with NBA regulations, the two sides had to wait until midnight ET on July 1 to come to an agreement on a contract.



With the Minnesota club on the upswing, this was an easy decision to make. In 2021/22, when he was only 26 years old, Towns had a resurgence with the Timberwolves. The squad had been trapped in lottery-bound purgatory for three consecutive seasons previous to 2022, despite his stellar numbers.



<h2>What Karl-Anthony Towns thinks of staying with Timberwolves</h2>



While speaking with The Athletic‘s Jon Krawczynski, Timberwolves executive Tim Connelly hinted at this contract by telling him, “He’s special and deserves everything that is going to come his way.”



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">When asked about his contract status at the conclusion of the previous season, Towns was even more evasive: “I love this city, so obviously things will happen this summer. When they happen, they happen,” he said, mystifying what financially was a simple decision. “I’ve been here so long, I don’t like making prophecies. I’ll let it come if it comes. And if it comes, it comes, and then we will deal with it when it comes.”</blockquote>

NBA News: Karl-Anthony Towns commits to new four-year, $224 million supermax deal with Timberwolves - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Karl-Anthony Towns commits to new four-year, $224 million supermax deal with Timberwolves

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/report-russell-westbrook-will-opt-into-47m-option-to-return-to-the-lakers-1842-20220628-SPD-1842.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> have agreed to acquire <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-wizards-anticipate-re-signing-bradley-beal-to-five-year-248-million-contract-deal-1789-20220626-SPD-1789.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah Jazz</a> center <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-jazzs-rudy-gobert-connected-to-timberwolves-despite-interest-from-bulls-1708-20220622-SPD-1708.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rudy Gobert</a>. Utah will get Malik Beasley in exchange for a number of first-round draft selections and a host of other players, including PatMalik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Leandro Bolmaro, and Jarred Vanderbilt.



Gobert has been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year three times and is usually regarded as the finest rim protector in the game. For the Timberwolves, he will create a formidable frontcourt alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, another of the league’s top offensive big men.



The 30-year-old Frenchman has taken Minnesota’s defense to a new level, despite the team’s shocking 13th-place finish last year. They’ll have to adapt their approach, but no Gobert defense has ever finished worse than 13th in the league over the previous seven seasons.



<h2>Rudy Gobert joins Timberwolves</h2>



Utah, on the other hand, has come to the close of one of the most prosperous periods in its history. After losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, it became evident that the Jazz needed to make a change. 



With a player option for $46.7 million in 2025/26 worth $123 million over the following three seasons, Gobert will be with the Wolves for a long period of time.

NBA News: Jazz get numerous players in exchange for Rudy Gobert from Timberwolves - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA News: Jazz get numerous players in exchange for Rudy Gobert from Timberwolves

After a great 2021-2022 season, the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-deandre-ayton-requested-maximum-deal-from-suns-1080-20220526-SPD-1080.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> are said to be considering a move for <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-and-jazz-could-trade-tyler-herro-and-donovan-mitchell-1235-20220602-SPD-1235.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah Jazz</a> center <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nikola-jokic-and-nuggets-expected-to-agree-new-260-million-supermax-contract-1097-20220527-SPD-1097.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rudy Gobert</a> this summer. By ending with a 46-36 overall record and giving the Grizzlies some significant competition in the NBA Playoffs’ first round, many people were astonished by what the Timberwolves accomplished this season.



In Anthony Edwards, the previous first-round selection, and in seasoned All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, the team seems to have a stable and talented core. It’s now all about finding the perfect supporting cast for the pair and making an NBA Finals run. It’s possible that Gobert may be the missing piece, according to one NBA analyst.



Going forward, the Timberwolves are keeping a close eye on Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, according to BasketballNews.com‘s Evan Sidery. Minnesota and Chicago are closely monitoring the situation surrounding the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.



<h2>How Timberwolves plan to snatch Gobert</h2>



A squad that has yet to realize its full potential may be improved if the Timberwolves were prepared to trade Rudy Gobert. They must trade D’Angelo Russell and the $31 million he will earn next season if they are going to make the money work.



Also said to be on the Timberwolves’ radar is Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela, who is said to be up for grabs. Clearly, Minnesota are interested in bolstering the strength of their frontcourt.

NBA Rumors: Jazz's Rudy Gobert connected to Timberwolves despite interest from Bulls - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: Jazz's Rudy Gobert connected to Timberwolves despite interest from Bulls

According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/which-is-the-most-valuable-nba-team-176-20220503-SPD-176.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> are anticipated to trade point guard <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-point-guards-of-all-time-in-nba-107-20220502-SPD-107.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">D’Angelo Russell</a> this summer because of his poor performance in the Timberwolves’ first-round <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-playoffs-format-how-does-the-nba-postseason-work-126-20220502-SPD-126.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">playoff series</a> against the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-attendance-history-what-is-the-highest-attended-game-of-all-time-141-20220502-SPD-141.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Memphis Grizzlies.</a>



With his team defeated in six games by the Grizzlies, Russell was benched late in Game 6 to end his night early for his teammates. Interestingly enough, Jordan McLaughlin, a third-year guard who went undrafted, was brought in to replace him by Timberwolves coach Chris Finch.



When asked whether he was okay with being benched, the former Golden State Warriors player said, “No. I’m not. This isn’t the case at all.”



<h2>Russell to be traded by the Timberwolves?</h2>



Even though <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-best-power-forwards-of-all-time-in-nba-259-20220503-SPD-259.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karl-Anthony Towns</a> has a great connection with Russell, a lot of rival clubs anticipate Minnesota to want to trade the guard, as per Marc Stein.



However, Russell’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he will be eligible for an extension. The 26-year-old no longer qualifies as an <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-nba-championships-have-phil-jackson-and-michael-jordan-won-together-187-20220502-SPD-187.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">All-Star</a> and will not be compensated at a level comparable to his prior earnings.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Top 3 worst performing NBA teams in 2022-23

NBA News: Karl-Anthony Towns commits to new four-year, $224 million supermax deal with Timberwolves

NBA News: Jazz get numerous players in exchange for Rudy Gobert from Timberwolves

NBA Rumors: Jazz's Rudy Gobert connected to Timberwolves despite interest from Bulls

NBA Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves will aim to get rid of D'Angelo Russell following disappointing post-season performance

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