Camden wrote:I didn't think I'd ever think this, but I think I'd rather have the Kings' roster and overall setup right now. And that's while acknowledging how talented and productive Towns has been to this point. He's in the early stages of a Hall of Fame career.
But give me Fox, Hield, Bagley, Bogdanovic, some capable veterans on cheap contracts and future financial flexibility over what the Wolves have right now.
You have to have an explosive backcourt to really be in business in today's NBA and I think the Kings have that moving forward.
The Wolves, however, can't get out of their own way -- deciding to trade away the opportunity to select McCollum, passing on Murray and Hield when they were obvious picks, trading LaVine. This is becoming an unforgivable issue and it's no surprise why this team is annually among the worst in three-point shooting.
Cam - I feel the same way. Actually, I remember wishing last season that we had the Sixers' or Celtics' rosters. As you and others will recall, I was concerned last season about where this team was headed. I didn't predict Butler's trade demand, but I didn't see the long-term upward trajectory you want to see in a team.
Missed draft opportunities generally distinguish the really good teams from the bad or mediocre ones. It's no secret that I was unhappy when Flip passed on McCollum, but it got worse that draft when the Wolves took Bazz over Giannis and then sold the first-round pick they could have used on Gobert. Yet, Flip left Thibodeau with ample assets and opportunities to build around a young future Hall-of-farmer named Karl Anthony Towns along with Wiggins. Thibodeau's poor coaching led to another great draft opportunity that he used on a short-term jump start to get Butler. Imagine if the Wolves had kept the #7 pick and used it on Mitchell. The Jazz thought so much of him that they traded up to get him. But Thibodeau was obsessed with getting his boy Butler. Thibodeau gave up his best 3-point shooter in that Butler deal and then squandered the pick he received with Butler when he could have drafted John Collins or Anunoby. Meanwhile, Thibodeau gave Gorgui a huge contract that no other team in the NBA will take without a hefty ransom and gave Wiggins a max contract that dwarfs his real on-court value. Thibodeau couldn't keep Belly and now Belly is flourishing in Sacramento.
Management and coaching matter. Thibodeau had success as a head coach in Chicago, but I knew from the beginning he was the wrong fit for this team in this era. Thibodeau hadn't even worked in a front office, much less led one, so I knew at the time that giving him the PBO position was ridiculous. But giving him both positions takes the cake for an act of colossal stupidity by our owner.
But all the things I've mentioned, even in combination, don't match the level of malfeasance Thibodeau has exhibited in his "handling" of the Butler situation this summer and fall. As Jon K has reported, Thibodeau knew of Butler's discontent at the end of last season and Buter even told him he wanted out back in May or June. Yet, Thibodeau did nothing. Failure to act on serious issues is what gets executives fired instantly when those serious issues explode. One of the great mysteries for me is how Tom Thibodeau is still employed by the Timberwolves organization in any capacity. When my wife complains about how much we spend on season tickets I have to seriously question my continued investment in such a putrid organization.
