Andrew Wiggins is bringing good times to Minnesota. (USATSI)
The Minnesota Timberwolves have discovered a new, exciting formula for selling season tickets:
1. Trade superstar for Canadians
2. Bring Canadians to state fair
3. Profit!
After sending Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-way trade that returned Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young, Minnesota experienced a surge of ticket sales, per Nick Halter of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
In the five days following the official announcement of the Kevin Love-Andrew Wiggins trade, the Timberwolves said they have sold 300 new full-season-ticket packages. That's on top of 200 new packages in the 30 days leading up to the trade, when most fans knew Wiggins would be the centerpiece of the deal.
The last week was the busiest for season ticket sales for the Wolves in three years.
…
Because management had a 30-day head-start, it was able to plan a media blitz to introduce the new players that included Sunday newspaper ads, a State Fair tour and a website takeover.
The Timberwolves had a base of 7,400 season tickets last season. After losing 20 percent of the packages, the level has rebounded to 6,800.
Wolves fans were in a peculiar position at the end of last season, as was the team. Minnesota wasn't that far away from the playoffs, but it was nowhere near a contender and Love obviously wanted out. After that disappointing year, there wasn't a lot to be excited about heading into the offseason.
Now, with Wiggins, Bennett and rookie Zach LaVine, the Wolves can sell hope. Which is exactly what they've been doing. They will almost assuredly be worse than they were last season, but they could be more fun. Everyone involved has been talking about their youth, athleticism and potential, for good reason. There will be growing pains, but Minnesota seems pumped about the return for Love and the franchise's new direction.
Also, I'm going to take this opportunity to share this great photo of Wiggins and his sisters at the state fair:
A favorite image of ours from yesterday, @22wiggins riding "The Tornado" w/ his three sisters. #EyesOnTheRise pic.twitter.com/JpogvdjgRa
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) August 27, 2014Basketball Hot News
James Harden’s four-point play vs. Turkey (VIDEO)
I’m generally not a fan of the PUJIT (pull up jumper in transition) but it works here for James Harden late in Team USA’s win over Turkey on Sunday.
For you kids at home, that is not how you close out on a three-point shooter (take shorter steps as you get close to the shooter to slow your momentum, sometimes move to the shooting hand side, or the side your coach prefers to force the shooter to help, usually forcing him baseline). What you don’t do is extend your arm into his chest and run into him.
James Harden’s day wasn’t perfect by far (we’ll get to that) but he finished with 14 points on seven shots as Team USA got the win.
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