Minnesota Sports Forum

Q12543 wrote:

Camden wrote:

Duke13 wrote:Listen to the first 20 minutes of this and tell me this doesn't get you excited. David Thorpe is one of the smartest basketball guys out there, he and Windhurst are drooling over this move. I like when Thorpe said we should take the slow approach with this roster.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/play?id=15281177

Thorpe thought it was smart, manages to insult the franchise before saying, "At worst you're getting a fantastic basketball coach that helps his players play better, play harder, play smarter, understand how to win, and that means as a team he wins games." Says Glen Taylor could/should be more reluctant to sell the team now that there's a high profile coach and "Hall of Fame talent" at multiple positions. Thorpe said this team, 2015-16 Wolves, would have been a playoff team this year with any legitimate coaching. I agree with that take.

Windhorst still sounds like Jonah Hill's second cousin. Wonders if we'll try to accelerate the movement and use some cap space. Basically, the same thing that Lowe talked about. Thorpe says that maybe Thibs will make some mistakes evaluating talent, but he's so damn good at coaching up talent that they'll play much better. He also says to get some cheaper talent this off-season in free agency and let Thibs coach them up better than they are (note: this follows the Bazemore/Turner level FA that I would really like). He also says that Wiggins has Kawhi Leonard type potential on defense, that he's a much better athlete than Leonard (agreed) and that it isn't even close. Says Rubio is top-three defensively for his position (agreed). Says Towns is gonna be an elite level center defensively and can play some four (duh). He could see Minnesota as a top-five defensive team in 2017, which I also agree with.

Windhorst says it'd be a mistake for the Bulls to move Jimmy Butler, but then presents the scenario of trading the No. 5 pick AND Zach LaVine for Butler, which will never happen because that's one-sided in favor of Chicago and Thibs isn't a dummy, nor is Layden. Windhorst thinks Dieng has "big time upside" and maybe you pair him with the pick for Butler. Also says he thinks it'd be interesting to see how negotiations would go with a Thibs-led Wolves and the Bulls. I'd be in favor of acquiring Butler, and I said I'd trade No. 3 + Shabazz Muhammad for him in a different thread, but there's no way I move LaVine for him.

Windhorst said that Thibs had been chasing this job for MONTHS. Thorpe says to stay patient and let Thibs coach up the talent that we have now. Not a bad take, but I say go get some more help and let's get in the playoffs and make some noise without blowing up the farm.

Windhorst and Thorpe were downright giddy about this move - almost to the point where I was saying, "slow down there boys!". And these are national guys!

In terms of "win now" versus "build for the future", when your best players are also your youngest players, I don't really see why it's not "both".

The one thing that could create some tension and bruise an ego or two is if Thibs goes and gets Butler or Deng. Because if he does that, LaVine is moving to 6th man and that will take some convincing for a guy on a rookie deal and headed into his 3rd year. Butler especially throws a stick in the spokes of our still-forming pecking order. Do you think Wiggins and KAT are going to suddenly want to defer a bunch of shots to Butler? And Butler probably views himself as a top dog somewhere. In Minnesota, he'll have a few dobermans nipping at his heels. Not sure Butler is in the best long-term interest of the team.

Deng on the other hand would be a big-time get and I'd be fine with LaVine licking a few wounds over that one. He'd still be a major option offensively and get plenty of minutes since Deng is starting to head toward being more of a role-player going forward.

Kevin Glasshands wrote:No one has mentioned this, but what about Noah, he is a FA, a Thibs guy, and a perfect compliment to what we already have in the front court (assuming he's healthy).

Kevin Glasshands wrote:No one has mentioned this, but what about Noah, he is a FA, a Thibs guy, and a perfect compliment to what we already have in the front court (assuming he's healthy).

AbeVigodaLive wrote:In the interest of both sides... was ANYTHING said that wasn't overly glowing praise?

I acknowledge that the very nature of the hire and media news cycle is going to lead to more praiseworthy comments... I'm just asking because you were clearly on one side of this debate.

Camden wrote:These are Wolfson quotes from this morning, so take them as you will.

"I am told Ryan Saunders is very likely back with the #TWolves" - @DWolfsonKSTP on 1500ESPN

"I think if you make Arnie Kander the right offer, he will stay." - @DWolfsonKSTP

"Mike Penberthy has interest in coming back to the #TWolves as full-time shooting coach. Has connection with Thibs." - @DWolfsonKSTP

"100% fact I can tell you Luol Deng has interest in playing for Thibs again." - @DWolfsonKSTP

"Someone who knows Thibs well claims he has learned that rest is important for his players." - @DWolfsonKSTP

"I bet I've texted with 15 people around the league, and all sing his praises (on Scott Layden." - @DWolfsonKSTP

"That's a bunch of garbage." Jim Petersen on talk of Thibs running players into the ground.

George Karl on the Thibs hire: "Smart, innovative, and a defensive team will be their calling card! Excited to see how quickly they grow into a winning team! Great choice."

Stan Van Gundy on the Wolves looking to hire Thibs: "I'm really glad he's in the Western Conference, really glad."