The Timberwolves climbed aboard their charter for Kansas City on Friday afternoon, where they will open the preseason with a game against the Miami Heat on Saturday. They most likely will not touch down again in Minneapolis until the wee hours of Oct. 17.
In between: Five preseason games, a number of practices, a road trip that will take them from Kansas City to Charlotte, N.C., to Lincoln, Neb., and Louisville, Ky., to Oklahoma City.
This extended trip is all by design.
Coach Tom Thibodeau is looking forward to the games, certainly. He wants to see how different combinations work, how well the players have assimilated his offense and defensive schemes.