⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tom's Title Tiers: #8

If the season ended today, the Wolves would be out of the play-in. What gives?

So far, the KAT trade hasn’t worked out as planned. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are spinning their tires and sit below .500 at the quarter pole. Are they still title contenders?

Welcome to another edition of Tom’s Title Tiers! New year, same schedule. First thing every Monday morning, your inbox will have my tiered rankings of every title contender with a longer focus on one team per week.

A reminder: This is my subjective list based largely on objective data. This is not a pure, analytical ranking. You’re here because you want to know what I think, to get inside my brain a little bit. Consider this a weekly report of what I see on film; what I glean from the numbers; what I hear on the phone; what I read in the news; what I feel.

This week’s featured squad: the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Here’s a quick rundown of each tier.

Tom’s Title Tiers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a complete team, no notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just missing that one thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ One move away from being one move away.

⭐️⭐️ So much has to break right.

⭐️ Sooo you’re saying there’s a chance.

This week, I revisit the KAT trade from Minnesota’s perspective. Are they still in the hunt for a title? Are they even playoff material at this point?

Let’s find out.