I can't think of a single star player that hasn't signed a rookie extension with the team that drafted him in the last decades, and I highly, highly doubt Wiggins or Towns will be the first to do so.
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves hire Coach Thibs
- Thread starter mkleve44
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I can't think of a single star player that hasn't signed a rookie extension with the team that drafted him in the last decades, and I highly, highly doubt Wiggins or Towns will be the first to do so.
I hope the T-Wolves can do it. They've been my favorite NBA team since KG was drafted.
Thibs has a long really athletic trio of guards and wings in Rubio/Lavine/Wiggins, combine that with how advanced Towns is already and I would expect Minnesota's defense to take a huge step forward next year. Offense, might be another story, they could really use another shooter to space the floor.
Hopefully Thibs has learned his lesson of not playing your stars 40 minutes a game because if not enjoy making the playoffs but not having anything in the tank come postseason wolves fans.
Weird how all of this has worked out so far. If the Bulls would've hung on to Thibs for one more year, Hoiberg heads to Minnesota this year I'm guessing. How much better does his career work out there with young talent vs what he had/has at Chicago?
I'm still hoping that things work out for Fred, but as others have said, I'm glad he left us last year instead of this year.
I'm still hoping that things work out for Fred, but as others have said, I'm glad he left us last year instead of this year.
I think Fred would have taken the T-Wolves job last year, but Flip (RIP) didn't want to give up the job just yet. People in town here thing Flip wanted to coach his guys. His legacy is going to live on, that's for sure.
It will be interesting to see how Rubio does next year. Have a feeling Thibs will be expecting more out of Ricky than he has shown so far.
Rubio's always been able to defend so I bet Thibs will like him a lot from that standpoint, when it comes to playing time he almost always favors defensive minded players. Which is why it will be interesting to see if they take Buddy. He seems like a good fit on the team, he also seems like a guy who won't be able to defend up to Thibs liking so he'll stick him on the bench while playing a Keith Bogans type of guy over him.
I think Buddy is really coachable, you can coach defense. Buddy has came a long way in BB, and I think he'll do what he needs to succeed in the pros. I'm just guessing but he'll get drafted by someone and we'll see soon enough.
This.
Rubio is one of the best defenders at maybe the best overall position in the NBA. Thibs will love him. You find yourself in a playoff series against: Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, Chris Paul, Russ Westbrook, etc. Ricky all of a sudden has a TON of value.
Recruiting to San Francisco is a lot easier than the Twin Cities. The markets are not even comparable. Getting free agents to Minnesota has been nearly impossible in the past. They will need lightning in a bottle these first few years to have any chance to attract anyone. The combined statistical area of San Francisco and Oakland is over twice the size of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Golden State is a big market team.
I always hear that Rubio is a great defender and passer. The latter's definitely true, but I just can't buy into the former. He gets lots of steals, but it's because he takes lots of chances. He has long arms, but he spends much of his time trailing the guy he's supposed to be guarding. I don't see him as above average on D. I saw something today where Thibs likes to run his O through a scoring PG. This is going to be interesting.
I like the Thibs hire, assuming he now understands you can't just beat your best players into the ground. The Wolves play no D, so I expect he'll get much out of them on that front.
I like the Thibs hire, assuming he now understands you can't just beat your best players into the ground. The Wolves play no D, so I expect he'll get much out of them on that front.
Towns is a stud, he's the guy you're going to build around. I think Wiggins can eventually be an All-Star level number two guy, Minnesota doesn't need big name free agents. They're going to need solid role players, those guys follow the money and a chance to win, wherever that may be.
I really think Rubio came into his a bit more this year than in years past. He isn't ever going to put up eye popping stats, but with this group of young athletic players, all he has to do is be a great floor general, not turn the ball over and play solid enough defense for him to not be a liability for Thibs. I think a player like Rubio could develop into a nice PG for a thibs team and not need to do anything more than be a pass first, defensive minded PG.
I would agree with Rubio not being a great defender, being able to defend and doing it consistently are two different things. He's never had a coach that's going to force him to defend like Thibs will. Minnesota has been a disaster on defense the last few years. Rubio has the ability to really get after people, quick, long arms, he's a lot like Rondo in that regard who Thibs turned into a monster defensively and who has also been a terrible defender the last several years.
I hope you're right! Just glad Taylor is actually going to make a wise decision and go outside the organization. Of course, that's only because he's looking to sell the team (and increase it's value). Well, better late than never.
