With the Wolves losers of 13 consecutive games after Monday’s loss to the Clippers, how does David Kahn keep his players from feeling they’ve been asked to walk the plank this season until help theoretically arrives next summer with potentially multiple first-round picks and abundant cap space?

“They’re not,” Kahn said. “We should be really clear about that. We’re not the only team in the league that starts this season admittedly with the playoffs not a likelihood, but we are one of the few teams that starts with an opportunity to really build something. …

“I don’t want them to think for one minute that what they’re doing this year is an exercise in waiting or just finishing out a year and getting to the next step. This year is really important for establishing a new culture with hard work and attention to detail.”

Wolves players’ body language and facial expressions often during their 1-12 start have suggested otherwise as they play on without injured Kevin Love and without Al Jefferson back to full health after February knee surgery.

“It will be a challenge this year from time to time keeping people’s spirits up,” Kahn said. “I recognize that. But nobody’s being asked to walk a plank. We have no pirates here.”