monsterpile wrote:A couple things I've been considering today:
1. Something in all these reports doesn't seem quite right. Note this is the Thibs and Layden era where very little leaks out from their side. It's worth considering where these reports are coming from...not the Wolves. That is worth considering. I'm certainly not suggesting verything is fine or good or Thins and Layden and Glen are all doing great hanging out and doing Yoga together while working thephones but something just seems off. I have some homeristic hope that somehow something magical happens and things turn around here with Thibs still coaching. I'm not really bettting on it or really hoping for it except I'm sort of an optimistic person about things.
2. We are all smart people here and come from various walks of life with various legit forms of expertise or just solid sense. However I think sometimes we overestimate our knowledge of situations surrounding how these deals come together. I'm guilty as anyone. Shams says "these trades for star players take weeks to get worked out.." weeks? What?!? I mean I get it but I honestly don't. That being said I have to realize Shams does know more about this than I do. That doesn't mean my outside perspective or opinion or anyone Kara here doesn't have value. I all can agree that sometimes people's different perspectives (including fans like us somewhat outside the situation) can enlighten the conversation.
I guess what I am saying is maybe we should be asking more questions about what we don't know and in some cases maybe be careful about getting caught up in every report (mostly rumored trades although it's kinda fun). I'm saying this to myself as much as anyone.
Also one last thing people keep saying Thibs is doing things to save his job. You know how he can save his job? Make a great trade both for now and the future which could be enough to make this team pretty good and get into the playoffs and do a lot of the things we have been hoping for. There is a chance he can do just that. Again I'm not betting on this but the trade a lot of people want is exactly how Thibs could save his job.
I hear what you're saying, Monster, but I think you're reaching a bit.
Reports of the disconnect between Thibodeau and Taylor on dealing Butler, at least initially, didn't have to come from the Wolves to be credible or true. The reports from other teams of confusion, not getting responses from the Wolves front office, and being told by Taylor to contact him directly if they don't get anywhere with the front office are unusual. The reports, coming from multiple teams through trusted reporters like Jon K and Woj don't seem fabricated.
Jon K's report about Butler not flying back with the team and telling Thibodeau months ago of his desire to be elsewhere probably did come from someone in the Wolves organization. But regardless of where those reports came from, they're actually validated now by the fact that Jimmy is demanding a trade. Those reports are also consistent with earlier reports this summer of Butler expressing his disdain for Towns and Wiggins. Thibodeau mentioned earlier this summer that he was in regular communication with Butler, which further suggests he should have know where Jimmy's Head was at. Jimmy's not one to hold back. Thibodeau probably blew it off because he didn't want to believe it. He likely figured the team would play, win games and Butler's attitude would change. He assumed human emotions and personalities wouldn't get in the way. That's what you'd expect from a head coach who never pats a player on the back. But that's not the way the world works. Organizations, including basketball teams (especially basketball teams) are all about personalities, egos, emotions and relationships. Even winning championships couldn't keep Shaq from leaving the Lakers to get away from Kobe. Thibodeau is an impersonal one-dimensional thinker who doesn't dwell in the world of relationships. That's why he so ill-suited to being a head coach, especially in today's NBA. And it's part of what ultimately led to his failure as PBO to address this situation before it became another tragic Wolves drama.
The situation is bad, but there's no point denying it. This isn't all that complicated. Thibodeau came here to coach what he called the "best young roster in the NBA" but failed to do any better than Sam Mitchell did with the same group even those the group he inherited was obviously more experienced than they were under Sam. So Thibodeau then set out to remake the roster in his image with Butler, Taj and Teague. The makeover worked, helping the team win 16 more games and make the playoffs. The deal had risks -- Jimmy's history of missing games with injuries and alienating teammates and the fact he had only 2 years left on his contract before he could opt out. But as last season progressed, Thibodeau was apparently unable (likely unwilling) to manage relationships on the team or rein in Jimmy Butler. After the season it seems that Thibodeau was unwilling to accept the possibility that Butler might not fit well long term or that he might seek to leave -- even when Jimmy was expressing those sentiments.
If we can't agree that Thibodeau is pathologically stubborn than we can't agree the earth is round. What we're seeing unfold before our eyes and the related reports all line up with the Thibodeau we're all seen in plain view. So here we are. It's not good, but it is definitely Thibs and it shouldn't be all that surprising.
