Report: Timberwolves have made 'cursory contact' with Tom Thibodeau

By foxsports
Published

The Timberwolves were left in a tragic situation when Flip Saunders passed away at the beginning of this NBA season. Off the floor, they lost a mentor, a friend and an idol. On it, they lost a coach, someone who was supposed to develop the young pups like Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and more. 

Sam Mitchell took over with an interim title, but it doesn't seem like things will develop beyond there. Could Tom Thibodeau's name be in the mix for the future? ESPN's Brian Windhorst admitted it might while making an appearance on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike.

Via HoopsRumors:

Some “cursory contact” has taken place between the Timberwolves and former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, sources tell Brian Windhorst, who made his report in an appearance on ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike” show (video link). Wolves owner Glen Taylor told interim Wolves coach Sam Mitchell that he would have this season to work with and that he would evaluate him after that, as Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press said to Hoops Rumors in a recent edition of The Beat, so the team faces a decision about its coaching future this spring. Thibodeau has apparently long wanted the Knicks coaching job, and while that appears unlikely, he’s reportedly of interest to the Lakers and Nets and is linked to just about every coaching vacancy that arises.

Thibodeau will be a much sought after entity this upcoming offseason after taking the year off following his ousting from Chicago. He spent the previous five seasons before this one as coach of the Bulls, leading them to the playoffs during each year he ran the bench.

Thibs has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the NBA's greatest defensive minds. And he can certainly fix much of what's wrong with the Wolves' current offense, one of the more outdated attacks in the league, relying on midrange shots all too much and three-pointers all too little.

The Wolves have tons of young talent in Wiggins, Towns, LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng and more. Thibs has worked with Kevin Garnett in the past, as well. The former Bulls coach was an assistant for Doc Rivers during the Celtics' championship runs in 2008 and 2009. There is a basketball attraction there even though the team is in a small market. 

But Minnesota would hardly be the only team that wanted Thibs this offseason. The Wolves would certainly have their competition if talks were to become more than just "cursory."