Optimism Surrounding the Twolves in 2013-2014

As the Minnesota Timberwolves enter the 2013-2014 season, it comes with a lot of optimism from the loyal T-Wolves fan base.

No, they aren't optimistic about the possibility of winning a NBA Title, no, they are realistic, but reality has them pegged as a contender for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference.

The big X factor for the Wolves this year as it is for many NBA teams without multiple superstars is health.  That was clearly the achilles heel for the Wolves the last couple seasons and now with the addition of couple solid pieces via the draft to add depth and the addition of Kevin Martin, the Wolves should be optimistic this season.

Talking to President of Basketball Operations Flip Saunders, he obviously understands its about health, but he brought up another point about the development of their superstars that  fans should pay attention to.

Flip said "In order to win a championship, its about the development of your superstars that takes you to the next level".   Certainly fans don't cheer for a team to make the playoffs, they want championships and Flip and the Twolves brass understand that.

Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Pek and the newly acquired Kevin Martin have to bring their A game each and every night if this current group wants to take the next step and the first step in creating their own path within this organizations history.

As mentioned earlier, the Wolves are in a tough Western Conference, where you can almost certainly pencil in Houston, the Clippers, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Golden State and Memphis as playoff caliber teams.  Not to mention the Lakers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Trail Blazers will all be jostling with the Wolves for those final two spots.

Watching them in the first LIVE action I've seen them in all year, obviously the core group looks ready and primed for a good season as long as health doesn't become a factor.

The development of the superstars as Flip Saunders eluded to will also be key but the development of the newly acquired draft picks will also be a key factor in 2013-2014.

For a franchise that seems to be cursed as of late, it will be real interesting to see if they can overcome the past issues and move forward together towards success.

** YOU CAN EMAIL JEFF THURN AT JT@ESPN991.COM & FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @JTESPN991