Observing the 2020 postseason ascent of one-time Timberwolves All-Star Jimmy Butler has allowed Patrick Reusse of the Minnesota Star Tribune to glean some perspective on Butler’s old team.
Reusse opines that former Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau‘s instincts were correct in making his 2017 trade with the Bulls to acquire Butler — but that the team erred in signing 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins to a his full five-year, $148MM maximum contract extension. When it became clear that this meant Butler would not be able to get the kind of maximum extension he desired, he forced his way out of Minnesota.
There’s more out of the Gopher State:
- Point guard-turned-assistant coach Pablo Prigioni could be the key to improving the play of Wolves star point guard D’Angelo Russell, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Prigioni was also a part of the Nets coaching staff when Russell made his lone All-Star appearance for Brooklyn.
- Wolves forward Jake Layman recently discussed the team’s in-market group practices, which commenced this week. “It has been great,” Layman said, per a team tweet. “I think going over those little things really builds the chemistry on and off the court and that has translated well to playing our 3-on-3 drill and 5-on-5.”
- As we previously relayed, the Wolves ahead of the 2020 draft will add 247 Sports analyst Josh Gershon to their front office. He will serve as a consultant for the team’s draft preparation and player personnel.
Instead of adding Josh Gershon to the front office as a draft preparation consultant, why not just continue using the same dartboard the team has used since 1989?
Or is it dice?
Deck of cards?
Roulette Wheel?
Anyway, results will be the same…
Of course! They need a new dartboard! Didn’t think of it.
Pablo Prigioni a career bench warmer is not gonna be the key for improving D angelo Russell lol
They worked we together with the Nets
Clearly, DLo will be an allstar for whatever team he’s with, as long as Prigioni is there.
Hahaha
He was a very smart player who could probably teach him a lot about playing PG and maybe he could even get him to play some D.
Well, there you have it! As long as Prigioni is on staff DLo will be a perennial All-Star!
A lot of the best coaches were not good players themselves. Those two things have no correlation.
Prigioni arrives to the NBA when he was 35. Before that he had a long and successful career in Europe and with Argentina’s national team. I am sure he can teach one thing or two to any young PG.
Star players don’t always make good coaches genius
Local writer (I like the bitterness. Nentwig?): “Butler… the star we should have been mad at in Minnesota.
“We might want to recall the Woofies made the playoffs at 47-35 in the Season of Jimmy (2017-18). Also, they were 27-10 vs. West when he was in lineup.
“Wolves draft Anthony Edwards and move Josh Okogie, right? I’ll bet Thibs would take him for the Knicks.”
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Professionals made the trade for Butler but the owner didn’t like him, possibly due to the way Butler talked in his office. Wiggins, who said the right things, got a max promise and there was Towns to max too, slacking kids who would be his straw bosses. So yes go bad & force your way out. Everyone got what they wanted, Wiggins rich and Butler out. A Midwestern story, The End.
Butler was the big winner in this one. Minnesota is stuck where they have always been, while Wiggins is on a has-been team that will struggle just to make the postseason in 2021. Meanwhile the Heat are one win away from getting to the Finals.
I don’t think Butler forced out of Timberwolves because of money. He forced his way out of Timberwolves because it’s the Timberwolves. He saw the stupidity and didn’t want to be involved. I’m sure more stupidity happened behind closed doors too.
Their stupidity included not budgeting enough for Butler’s salary!
Please for the love of god Timberpuppies , draft a couple players who can play one ounce of defense!!!! DLo and KAT are poor at best.
The Nets were crazy to let DLo walk and sign Irving.