No. 5 – Sam Cassell

Stats – 2 seasons (2003-2005) – 17.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.0 steals, One-Time All-Star

It was hard to decide which of Cassell and the aforementioned Gugliotta should rank higher on our list.

Cassell, possibly the only player in NBA history with a Dr. Seuss nickname, eventually won out due to his contributions to the 2003-04 Western Conference Finals team. He provided that team with a steady hand at point guard and got clutch buckets.

He even popularized a dance that players get fined for doing. I won’t link it here but you can find it pretty easily.

All this adds up to a player worthy of cracking the top five.

(Feel free to let me know about other Seussian nicknames.)

No. 4 – Wally Szczerbiak

Stats – 7 seasons (1999-2006) – 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, One-Time All-Star

Szczerbiak is pretty clearly the best long-range shooter in franchise history, shooting over 40 percent from three for his entire Wolves career.

He played a major role early in his career as the second offensive option averaging double-digit scoring every year and providing valuable floor-spacing.

Before the ’03-04 season, the Wolves acquired Latrell Sprewell to start at small forward. Szczerbiak, a starter throughout his career, graciously accepted a bench role where he continued his efficient scoring.

A shooter playing in the wrong era, Szczerbiak quickly became a fan favorite and is an important player in franchise history.

No. 3 – Karl-Anthony Towns

Stats – 3 seasons (2015-current) – 21.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, One-Time All-Star

The youngest player on our list, Towns has shot up the rankings at an insane pace in his first three seasons.

The young KAT is already one of the best offensive centers in the game and was named a 2018 All-Star. Towns is a load on the low block with automatic jump hooks with either hand.

For a team that desperately needs spacing, Towns has developed an automatic three-pointer (42.1 percent on 3.5 attempts per game).

With his level of athleticism, he has all the tools to develop into — at worst — a passable defender. He’s already at an All-NBA level on the other end.

His contributions helped the Wolves end their 14-year playoff drought, and they should make the playoffs again in 2018-19.

The sky is the limit for Towns, and hopefully, he sticks around in Minnesota for the rest of his long career.

No. 2 – Kevin Love

Stats – 6 seasons (2008-2014) – 19.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, Three-Time All-Star

On draft night in 2008, the Wolves flipped O.J. (Ovinton J’Anthony) Mayo to the Memphis Grizzlies for a pudgy, outlet-throwing big man from UCLA named Kevin Love.

It was the correct move.

Love became the starting power forward by his third season and responded by averaging 20.2 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. Those numbers are absurd for a first-time starter.

Love continued to put up monster numbers, averaging at least 26 and 12.5 twice in his Wolves career.

Eventually, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for no. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins (a tough cut from the list).

Love was a legend in Minnesota, and he made his way to the no. 2 spot in only six seasons. Not too shabby.

Also, he has drastically changed his appearance over the years. I still don’t believe this second photo is actually him.

https://twitter.com/TomHoefel/status/945414411296169989

No. 1 – Kevin Garnett

Stats – 14 seasons (1995-2007, 2014-2016) – 19.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, 10-Time All-Star, 2003-04 NBA MVP

There was never a chance any other player would occupy this top spot. Garnett changed the game from the time he entered the league.

The Timberwolves took him no. 5 overall in the 1995 Draft, making him the first straight-out-of-high-school pick in 20 years. Garnett was named an all-star in his second campaign and never looked back.

He was a 10-time all-star with the Timberwolves, and he led the NBA in rebounding for four straight seasons from 2003-07.

Garnett was named the league’s most valuable player in the ’03-04 campaign and led the Wolves to their best-ever showing by making the Western Conference Finals.

During his first stint in Minnesota, he averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks over 12 seasons. He led the franchise to eight straight playoff appearance, which (up until last season) accounted for every postseason berth in history.

Looking at win shares (an advanced stat which estimates the number of wins a single player produces), Garnett tallied 139.8 in his Wolves career. The next closest player in franchise history is Love with 47.

That gap is insane.

Garnett is the franchise all-time leader is games, points, free throws, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and a myriad of advanced numbers.

He’s easily the greatest Timberwolf ever and a top-20 player of all time.