Jimmy Butler (Photo : Jerry Lai/Reuters)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are no longer just a young, talented team without a direction as they have hired one of the best coaches in recent years.
The highly coveted Tom Thibodeau, former coach of the Chicago Bulls, has made a decision on his landing spot. He has chosen the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team oozing with young talent, as his next project. One important point, he also took the position of President of Basketball Operations.
This development came at a time when the Chicago Bulls has missed the playoffs, something that did not happen in Thibs' tenure. At the center of the turmoil in the Windy City is Jimmy Butler, the Bulls' new star.
As noted by Bulls' team site Pippen Ain't Easy, the front office as represented by Gar Forman and John Paxson (aka GarPax) has already declared that they will take "aggressive measures to implement changes to the team." In the past years, GarPax has been criticized for their inactivity to make high impact trades to improve the team.
Now that they are stuck with a roster that does not seem receptive nor compatible with "Hoiball" (Coach Fred Hoiberg's offense) they realize they need to shake up the roster. Michel Kanoy of Pippen Ain't Easy pondered on whether the Bulls would trade with the newly appointed Thibodeau.
"He might be one option for shopping Butler (and Taj Gibson) around to get some good pieces for the Bulls," Kanoy proposed.
He argued that Thibodeau would probably prefer to have veterans to lead the team. If the Timberwolves trade their 5th overall pick (if they keep it) along with an asset like Zach Lavine or even Shabazz Muhammad for Butler and Taj Gibson (who has been on trade rumors since forever), that would work for both sides.
Other assets that the Bulls can demand is Ricky Rubio or Tyus Jones, as the Bulls also seek a point guard for their future (since Derrick Rose is often injured and Hoiberg sometimes plays him at the two spot).
Butler seems ready and willing to play for the coach helped to catapult him to stardom, as he shared with the Chicago Tribune.
"I'm happy for that guy," Butler said.
He addressed the question on whether Thibodeau was a great coach or tough to play for?
"Little bit of both," Butler replied. "He knows what he's doing. He's very smart. He studies the game. And he'll do whatever it takes to win."
