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MINNEAPOLIS -- There is a gaping hole in the northeast corner of Target Center, the result of a renovation that has started on the Minnesota Timberwolves aging arena to update it as much as possible without completely tearing it down and starting from scratch.After almost a decade-long identity crisis, the major rebuilding of the roster is finally over.With Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine, a core is firmly entrenched that makes one of leagues most unsuccessful franchises the subject of envy for its wealth of young talent. Tom Thibodeau has arrived to give the Wolves a top-flight coach to take over their on-the-job education. And they are just plain sick and tired of hearing about the teams 12-year playoff drought.It bothers me, Towns said. It truly bothers me. Its something I dont want to hear anymore. Im tired of hearing about a drought around here. Thats something that annoys me and bothers me. What I can do to control that is come in every day, work tremendously hard and do everything possible to help us be the winning team we see ourselves being.The Timberwolves won 29 games a year ago, a 13-game improvement from the previous season. They will likely need at least 12 more wins this season to be in the mix in the competitive Western Conference.Despite starting three players who are 21 or younger, their optimism is high.There are a lot of guys on the team that have never been in the playoffs and theyve been here for a long time, Wiggins said. We havent seen it. Now we finally have the perfect pieces to get there, the perfect opportunity this year. Were very confident. Were overly excited. We just want to work hard to get there.The Timberwolves open the regular season on Wednesday in Memphis. Here are some things to watch this season:VETERAN WIGGINSThere is relative certainty surrounding Towns ability to assert himself as an elite big man in the league. It remains a little unclear just how great Wiggins will be. He has worked tirelessly to improve his ball-handling and perimeter shooting to become an All-Star caliber player. If Thibodeau and Wiggins can form the relationship that helps the supremely talented wing play with fire more consistently, look out.DUNNS DEVELOPMENTThe Wolves grabbed point guard Kris Dunn with the fifth overall pick in June, and there is a lot of speculation that he will eventually supplant Ricky Rubio as the starter. But point guard is the most difficult position to play in the league, and the Wolves have no reason to rush him into that role on a team that desperately wants to make the playoffs. Dunn has shot poorly in the preseason, but Thibodeau has already proclaimed him NBA-ready on defense, which is a big thing for the coach.BJELICAS BOUNCEBACKNemanja Bjelica came to the Timberwolves last season after being named Euroleague MVP in Turkey, but struggled with injuries and making an adjustment to the NBA game. He has looked much more comfortable during the preseason of Year No. 2. If he can emerge as the playmaking, sharpshooting, stretch 4 with the second unit, the ceiling for the team raises significantly.BYE, BYE KGFranchise icon Kevin Garnett retired earlier this month, leaving the pups he mentored last season to strike out on their own. The best players on this team are very, very young, so watching the leadership element develop will be intriguing. Towns has quickly asserted himself as one of the teams hardest workers and most vocal communicators, so he is a natural candidate.We talked. I know what I must do, Towns wrote on Instagram after KG retired. Ill take it from here.FINANCIAL MATTERSWith so many young players under contract, the Timberwolves enter the season with cap space galore. But that space will be chewed up in the coming years when Wiggins, LaVine and Towns come up for extensions. One of the interesting pieces in the immediate future is versatile big man Gorgui Dieng. If the Wolves do not reach agreement on an extension with him by the end of the month, he will become a restricted free agent next summer and likely command a salary on the open market of $17 million a year or more. Thibodeau is a big fan of Diengs game, but it remains to be seen if the two sides can come to an agreement.---Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/APKrawczynski Yeezy 700 Hospital Blue Outlet . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Fake Yeezy 700 Salt . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.yeezy700outlet.com/discount-yeezy-700-teal-blue-online.html . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Cheap Yeezy 700 Salt . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Cheap Yeezy 350 V2 . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. SEATTLE -- Chris Petersen is always recruiting, although his pitch so far this season has been focused on a different group.Its been directed at the fans of No. 8 Washington in the hopes of getting people to show up for a non-conference schedule thats less than appealing despite the Huskies (2-0) having their highest ranking in 15 years.Im excited about this team and I know our students arent here yet, but I just really hope that the fans, that they come out for this game and they see this, Petersen said. Its an awesome group to coach. Its going to be an interesting season, I really think that. Thats what I hope.The conclusion to Washingtons uninspired non-conference slate comes Saturday when the Huskies host FCS Portland State. On the heels of wins over Rutgers and Idaho , the Vikings arent exactly the most appealing appetizer before Washington begins conference play.Of course, there is a beacon on the horizon: the Huskies host No. 7 Stanford on Sept. 30 in a game that could be significant in determining the Pac-12 North champion and the first game after classes are back in session at Washington. That game likely will be a sellout, but for this week, Petersen is still being a promoter.Back when this thing was really rolling, it was irrelevant for the most part who was on the schedule; people just came to watch them play, Petersen said. And I think thats so much of the storied history of this program when you talk about the greatest setting. All these fans come and enjoy this.Portland State (1-1) is closing out two straight weeks facing FBS competition. The Vikings were routed 66-33 at San Jose State last week. But if Petersen has any concern the Huskies may be looking ahead, he just needs to remind his team of what Portland State did last year winning at Washington State and at North Texas.Portland State coach Bruce Barnum holds the Huskies in high regard .Well be able to play a team that I bet you will be in the national championship game at the end of the year, Barnum saiid.dddddddddddd.Heres what else to watch in the non-conference finale for both teams:JAKE IS GREAT: Washington QB Jake Browning has taken a significant step forward from last year -- at least for two games. Browning is leading the Pac-12 in pass efficiency rating and has thrown eight touchdowns with just one interception. With Brownings growth, the big play has returned to Washingtons offense. The Huskies already have six offensive touchdowns of 20 or more yards.DUAL THREAT: Portland State quarterback Alex Kuresa is a dual threat in the backfield. Kuresa rushed for 123 yards in the Week 1 win over Division II Central Washington, but struggled last week against San Jose State. Kuresa was held to 29 yards rushing and was just 10 of 22 passing for 135 yards and three interceptions.But hes not the only option in the Portland State backfield that can run and throw. Paris Penn is listed as a quarterback but is more of a multipurpose player for the Vikings. Penn rushed for 137 yards against San Jose State and is the Vikings leading rusher on the season but has not thrown a pass.RUNNING NOWHERE: Washingtons run game has sputtered to begin the season. That hasnt been a problem because of Browning and the passing game, but its an aspect the Huskies offense needs to improve. Myles Gaskin has just 124 yards rushing in two games and the Huskies are averaging 108.5 yards on the ground. Last year, the Huskies averaged 164 yards.Portland State could be the perfect remedy. The Vikings gave up 409 yards rushing to San Jose State last week.CREATE CHAOS: When Portland State pulled its upset of Washington State last year, it forced a pair of key turnovers, part of the 28 takeaways the Vikings had for the season. Through two games this year, the Vikings have yet to force a turnover. Creating takeaways may be the only way Portland State can hang around with the Huskies. ' ' '