Minnesota Timberwolves

46-36, lost in conference first-round series

Overview: After reacquainting themselves with the playoffs last season, the Timberwolves ramped up the rare energy around them by acquiring three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner Rudy Gobert in a blockbuster trade. His new frontcourt partner, Karl-Anthony Towns, sure didn’t see the deal coming.“That’s a wild turn of events, being competitors like that against each other and now we’re teammates. That wasn’t on my bingo card this summer,” Towns said.“I’m just real happy that we get to make each other better.” In an age when most of the league has gone small, the Timberwolves have truly gone big. Not only did they send four players and five first-round draft picks to the Jazz to land the 7-foot-1 Frenchman, they took the bold step of building a lineup around two natural centers — albeit with distinctively different skill sets.

Quote: “He’s a generational talent on defense, and I think

I’m a generational talent on offense. The way that we can complement each other on both sides of the court is going to be amazing,” said Towns, whose hyperbolic style has become one of his most enduring traits.“I think it’s really exciting for fans. I think it’s very exciting for the league. People talk about a two big-man tandem hasn’t been able to work, especially in today’s NBA. Intend to change that mindset for people.”