• Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson.

Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson. (Photo : Getty Images)

NBA trade rumors haunt the Minnesota Timberwolves as they stumble with a 4-10 record amid high expectations for the team.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau needs to put on his GM hat on and make some personnel changes, as insinuated by Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report in this tweet.


Bucher claims that Thibodeau is becoming impatient already and is "a few losses away" from making a trade. The usual suspects were his crew from the Chicago Bulls, but it included Luol Deng, who is now with the Los Angeles Lakers after stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat (he was basically a Lebron James replacement both times).

These rumors are not entirely new and with the Timberwolves in a disappointing start, it was easy to piece the puzzle.

Sporting News (as hosted by Yahoo Sports) offers more insight on the tweet. They remind that Butler was already a target right when Thibs assumed office but the asking price was too high (reports say it was Andrew Wiggins). The Wolves also had high hopes for Kris Dunn, the 2016 5th overall pick.

If they would trade for Butler, they may have to give up their future draft picks, and Sporting News cautioned against that. "Headed for another high draft pick in the lottery for Kansas star Josh Jackson, Minnesota is better off trading for Deng or Gibson and keeping their draft picks."

If it were between Deng and Gibson, the latter would be the better bet as Deng just inked a huge contract with the Lakers (described as "staggering) in the latter's bid to add veteran mentors to their young core. At four years, $72 million, Deng's current production of 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds hardly cuts it.

In contrast, 31-year old Gibson is making just under $9 million as an expiring contract. In this season he's currently playing better than Deng with 11.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. If Thibs is on board, it's unlikely he'd be a rental.

SN points out that the "Wolves are stacked down low with Towns, Hill, Payne, Nemanja Bjelica, Cole Aldrich and Gorgui Dieng." The Bulls would definitely ask for one or more of these players if they send out Gibson, with Dieng the most likely prospect.