Minnesota Timberwolves: We're 'not likely' to challenge for NBA title

[SRNewsBot]

The Minnesota Timberwolves took out a full-page ad in Monday's Star Tribune sports section, featuring a long open letter to fans that acknowledges the negatives, points to the positives, and spells out the plan for improvement.

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[Spurd_On]

I thought they already tried the "transparency" method this summer with the announcement that one of their players didn't smoke too much weed.

[Mombear]

[katyspursfan]

Is this the first professional franchise that EVER told its fans that they will not win it all this year?

If so, I applaud it! Watching the Astros for the last 4 years I've been in HOU, there is nothing but super high expectations in April. They never admit to any type of rebuilding/restocking/re-whatever you want to call it. Come to the ballpark! This is our year!

Same with the Rockets. Texans, not so much, since they've never seen the playoffs.

But, c'mon! Knowing that you are 2-4 ideal years from truly competing, stop treating the fans like idiots. Let them know the plan. Let them follow along with 'the plan'.

This is a nice step to appease the semi-intelligent fans that
1. Know they are being BS'ed in any marketing plan
2. Have cash, and would likely come if the team markets to them
3. Would like to watch the team grow, and get them engrossed in future success

Imagine the Spurs marketing if they had no Big Three, but still had Blair, Hill and Andserson?
Would you prefer that offered a path to greatness, or a BS claim in order to sell tickets this year?

[Spurd_On]

I would likely go to a T-Wolves game if the fluids in my vehicle froze solid and I happened to be near the arena.

[Jose_TheGenius]

why should the fans go support their team? why should fans buy jerseys? etc etc.

this is completely not the right way to go. of course the fans know deep inside they ain't winning, but when you say "hey we're not winning it all", ur taking away from any motivation the coaches, the team, the fans may have. just don't even play the season if you don't think you can win it.

[Spurd_On]

Originally Posted by Jose_TheGenius

why should the fans go support their team? why should fans buy jerseys? etc etc.

this is completely not the right way to go. of course the fans know deep inside they ain't winning, but when you say "hey we're not winning it all", ur taking away from any motivation the coaches, the team, the fans may have. just don't even play the season if you don't think you can win it.

I tend to agree with this and I think I understand what Katyspursfan is trying to say also. Telling fans they are not going to win is a bad approach but hyping up the team to look like they are better than sliced bread isn't working either. My solution would be to exploit the David and Goliath theme where their local team stands square and faces up to mighty and powerful NBA giants.

[JWest]

Hard fought games won or lost will keep your fans. Fans that only care about their team's winning as the only reason are not worth a damn. They will just become Laker fans.

Kevin McHale was the worst thing to happen to the T-Pups. Like Zeke to the Knicks. Bad decisions too often forgiven, ameliorated and condoned for the 'local'.

[Dulce]

Originally Posted by JWest

Hard fought games won or lost will keep your fans. Fans that only care about their team's winning as the only reason are not worth a damn. They will just become Laker fans.