Thibs Rumors FYI

[Papalrep]

http://www.todaysfastbreak.com/fastbreak-news/timberwolves-contact-tom-thibodeau/

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=14759068

http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nba/2111/tom-thibodeau

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240756/Wolves-Have-Already-Reached-Out-To-Tom-Thibodeau

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Well all those links are from the same incident (a comment Windhorst made), so it's really just one rumor from one source, but it's interesting to think about that possibility.

I think Thibs' demanding style would work best with a group of young guys, and that's what we have. And of course, I'd love it if he could come in here and make us a good defensive team because that's such a weakness for us. If bringing him in would attract Noah to come here on a cheap deal, assuming Noah can still play pretty well (which I think he can), all the better!

I'd be a little concerned about how he relates to people on the personal side of things. He was kind of an alienating presence in Chicago, not much of a team-player with other employees, and not the best communicator. He didn't deserve to get trashed by the Bulls owners in that exit, but that doesn't mean he was innocent in what went down.

[thedoper]

If Thibs were the guy we'd have to get a big name GM too to make it work, otherwise the power dynamics would be out of wack. I don't think you can give Thibs the GM too, he doesn't strike me as the kind of personality for that role.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Yeah, we should get a GM first and then coach. But we should do it before the draft so that any moves we make will take into consideration the coaching style. Remember when we took Flynn and Rubio and then we had Rambis and the triangle, terrible fit for both PGs.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Jeff Van Gundy at President of Basketball Operations.
Tom Thibodeau as Head Coach.

It's made the most sense for a while now. They have a great relationship, likely share the same stance on a lot. Van Gundy seems a little hesitant to get back into coaching, but I do think he'd have interest in being control of basketball operations. It also doesn't hurt that this is his ole pal's creation that he'd be taking over.

[bleedspeed]

Jeff Van Gundy at President of Basketball Operations.
Tom Thibodeau as Head Coach.

It's made the most sense for a while now. They have a great relationship, likely share the same stance on a lot. Van Gundy seems a little hesitant to get back into coaching, but I do think he'd have interest in being control of basketball operations. It also doesn't hurt that this is his ole pal's creation that he'd be taking over.

We can only hope. I really think that is truly best case. I would throw the farm at both as owner to make it happen. Selling a winner with a packed arena won't be hard.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Also in that Bill Simmons/Thibs podcast, Thibs was talking about KG (and Ewing) and how it's incredibly rare to find a big man with all of those skills and the heart of a winner. I think that's why he loved Joakim Noah so much too, though, his skills weren't nearly as supreme as those two that were earlier mentioned. Perhaps Karl-Anthony Towns is the player that attracts Thibs here the most. It's not often that you find a 20-year old that can do everything he can already, plus have legitimate size and athleticism to match, AND want to win so badly that he's crushed after every regular season loss. They share similar passion for the game. I think they'd be good for each other.

[TAFKASP]

"The Timberwolves job is a great job. It will be low expectations. They have two guys who look like bonafide future annual All-Stars in Wiggins and Towns."

The young core of this team, less their next draft pick, will be in their second, third, and fourth years, with the player having the least experience being far and away their best player. Next year's expectations will be to make the playoffs minimum, to suggest in the Western Conference that the team comes with low expectations is ridiculous. With the core talent and expected cap space, any coach worthy of the job better expect to deliver on their first playoff birth in 13 years!

[AbeVigodaLive]

"The Timberwolves job is a great job. It will be low expectations. They have two guys who look like bonafide future annual All-Stars in Wiggins and Towns."

The young core of this team, less their next draft pick, will be in their second, third, and fourth years, with the player having the least experience being far and away their best player. Next year's expectations will be to make the playoffs minimum, to suggest in the Western Conference that the team comes with low expectations is ridiculous. With the core talent and expected cap space, any coach worthy of the job better expect to deliver on their first playoff birth in 13 years!

I understand where he's coming from... compared to other markets.

Look how apathetic we are around here and we're about as diehard of fans as they come. Beyond that, KG didn't get the "teflon" tag for nothing. He largely escaped too much criticism for the 1st round flameouts. This is a market starving or basketball success... ANY basketball success.

It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing like in other cities. It just has to be relevance. Anything is better than Mitchell. Kahn. Rambis. Wittman. Et al...