Things weren’t going to come easy for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014-15 NBA season. This was apparent from the moment that the Kevin Love trade was completed. Sure, the Wolves brought in a bevy of high-upside prospects to replace the All-Star power forward. That move was about building for the future and less about having success this season.

However, one of the things that they were banking on coming into this season is that they would have the veterans that remained in Minnesota around to guide their now exceedingly youthful roster. What’s been disappointing for the Timberwolves is that hasn’t happened much at all for one reason or another.

Newly acquired Thaddeus Young missed time due to personal matters over the first month of their season. Meanwhile, Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin have both been dinged up to start the year. The most disappointing and devastating injury for the Wolves, though, has undoubtedly been the relatively major ankle sprain suffered by point guard Ricky Rubio.

With all that’s gone on for the Timberwolves to start the 2014-15 season, it’s not surprising that they sit at just 4-10 to start the year and are currently one spot above rock bottom in the Western Conference.

Despite their lack of success in terms of wins and losses, though, it’s hard to say that there haven’t been any positives in Minnesota over the first month of the season. Andrew Wiggins seems to get more comfortable in the NBA game with each passing day. Gorgui Dieng is developing into a more-than-serviceable big man in their rotation. Guys like Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad are getting the experience they need to grow.

If you look at the Timberwolves through a normal lens, their season has been a failure because they aren’t getting wins. However, through the lens of a team that is trying to build for the future and help cultivate the young talent on their roster. Things have gone decently for this team. The injuries haven’t made things easy, but it’s hardly a bleak outlook for the Wolves after the first month of this season.

Final Grade: C+