The Timberwolves have chosen former Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau to become their next coach and basketball operations boss and are in negotiations to close the deal.
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The Timberwolves announced on Wednesday they had agreed to terms with Thibodeau, with Scott Layden serving as the general manager.
The Wolves also will hire San Antonio assistant general manager Scott Layden as their new general manager who will report to Thibodeau, according to a person with knowledge of the team’s search. Minnesota was 29-53 this past season, letting interim coach Sam Mitchell go at the end of it. Mitchell had filled in after the tragic death of coach/president Flip Saunders last October.
The Wolves had also interviewed ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, who is still in the running for the head coaching opening at Houston Rockets.
Prior to taking over in Chicago, Thibodeau was an assistant coach to Doc Rivers with the Boston Celtics.
“Tom’s resume speaks for itself”, Taylor said. Fred Hoiberg was hired to replace Thibodeau, and the Bulls missed the post-season.
Thibodeau is known for his toughness and work ethic as a head coach and it showed for the Bulls, which became one of the toughest defensive teams in the league during his stint in Chicago. “He is a proven victor, leader and one of the most well-respected National Basketball Association head coaches over the last decade”, said owner Glen Taylor in a statement released by the team. The looming cap spike and cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and swingman Andrew Wiggins make this a more intriguing destination for free agents, but the 2016 draft might give the Timberwolves that last piece they need to grow into contenders.
With a roster consisting of some of the best young talent in the league that has a bright future ahead of them, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to land the top guy on the market to be their next head coach.
Thibodeau and Layden each enter their positions in the Wolves organization with a good amount of experience under their belts.
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Thibodeau’s first National Basketball Association coaching job was in Minnesota, where he was an assistant to Bill Musselman in the Wolves’ expansion season of 1989-90.
