Community Shootaround: Tom Thibodeau
The Wolves and Tom Thibodeau reached an agreement Wednesday on a five-year deal that made Thibodeau the new head coach and president of basketball operations for Minnesota. “We are extremely excited to welcome Tom Thibodeau back to the Timberwolves,” team owner Glen Taylor said in the team’s official release. “Through this process we quickly identified Tom as the best leader to shape our talented team and help them realize their full potential. Tom’s resume speaks for itself. He is a proven winner, leader, and one of the most well-respected NBA head coaches over the last decade. His teams have annually been among the league leaders in defense and we are excited about the approach and mentality he will bring to that side of the ball. The future of the Minnesota Timberwolves has never been brighter and we are very pleased to have Tom as our basketball operations leader moving forward.”
Thibodeau had plenty of on-court success in his five seasons with the Bulls, who had given the longtime assistant his first NBA head coaching job. He went 255-139 in the regular season, winning the 2010 Coach of the Year award, though he was just 23-28 in the playoffs. Chicago parted ways with Thibodeau last May. The main criticisms regarding Thibodeau from his time in Chicago were regarding his lackluster offensive system and play calling, as well as his propensity to wear his veteran players down through brutal practices and excessive regular season minutes.
The Wolves as an organization have a wealth of young talent and are certainly one of the up and coming franchises in the league as a result. The addition of Thibodeau is a solid fit given the defensive talent already on Minnesota’s roster, but there are likely to be some concerns raised about whether he has the right temperament to properly nurture and develop his younger players.
This brings me to today’s topic: Is Tom Thibodeau the right fit for the Wolves?
Take to the comments section to share your thoughts on the hire, express any reservations regarding Thibs joining the Wolves, or simply to offer a prediction on how well the team will fare in 2016/17 under Thibodeau. We look forward to what you have to say.
Community Shootaround: Earl Watson
On Tuesday, the Suns removed the interim tag from Earl Watson‘s title and formally named him head coach. “Earl did a very good job with our team last season after taking over as interim head coach during a challenging time for the organization,” Suns GM Ryan McDonough said during the team’s official press conference. “Earl’s natural leadership qualities and his ability to connect with and motivate our players have stood out throughout his time here in Phoenix. We are excited to see what he can do with a healthy roster after having a full offseason to prepare.”
The news of Watson’s hiring came as no shock, seeing as people in the Suns organization and around the league considered him the front-runner for the job as the team prepared to begin its search in earnest last week, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. The Suns were reportedly poised to pursue Mike D’Antoni even before they fired Jeff Hornacek, but a reunion with D’Antoni, who won Coach of the Year honors with the Suns in 2005, never came to pass. The team eyed Steve Nash, but the former MVP wasn’t interested. Conflicting reports emerged about Phoenix’s interest in Villanova coach Jay Wright, while the team was also apparently fond of Dan Majerle and Luke Walton.
Watson has a reputation for having a strong influence on free agents, and that helped build his case for the job, along with his work to rehabilitate the trade value of Markieff Morris, Phoenix’s defensive improvements down the stretch and perhaps his ties to the Klutch Sports Group, the agency that also represents Eric Bledsoe, according to Coro. Soon-to-be free agent power forward Mirza Teletovic cited Watson as he spoke about why he wants to re-sign with the team. The Suns only went 9-24 under Watson, though Bledsoe was already out for the season by the time of the coaching change, and Brandon Knight missed most of the games that Watson coached.
This brings me to the topic for today: Did the Suns make the right call by naming Earl Watson head coach?
Are you a fan of the hire? Then take to the comments section to tell us why. Think Phoenix could have done better? Tell us why you believe so and whom the team should have hired instead. We look forward to what you have to say on the matter.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Community Shootaround: Al Horford
Al Horford‘s future with the franchise is perhaps the biggest question facing the Hawks this offseason. The 29-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent. He stands to more than double his salary in free agency and may change the perception of who deserves a max contract, opined Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders. Horford is making $12MM this season, but when he hits the open market this summer after completing his ninth NBA season, he’ll be eligible for a contract starting at approximately 30% of the salary cap. That works out to a first-year salary of approximately $26MM and means that a four-year maximum contract for the veteran player would cost a team in the neighborhood of $111MM.
That is certainly a hefty sum for a player who has never averaged higher than 18.6 points per game in a season, but with the salary cap set to increase markedly for next season, the perception of player worth is likely to change dramatically as well. That brings me to the topic for today: Is Al Horford worth a maximum salary contract?
The big man is coming off a solid, if unspectacular campaign that saw him post averages of 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 32.1 minutes per outing. Horford is a perfect fit in coach Mike Budenholzer‘s offense, which certainly should factor into the Hawks’ decision-making process regarding the center. Signing any big man to a long-term pact is a major risk these days, and Horford, who turns 30 in June, is entering the decline phase of his career, which isn’t a plus when weighing the pros and cons of committing a sizeable chunk of cap space to him. The center has had injury issues in the past, missing significant parts of the 2011/12 and 2013/14 campaigns.
But what say you? Is Horford worth annual salaries of $26MM or more? If so, do you think he re-signs with the Hawks for that amount or heads elsewhere? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Community Shootaround: Timberwolves Job
The Timberwolves finished the season with 29 wins, stretching their playoff drought to 12 seasons. That was a 13-win improvement over the 2014/15 season, but owner Glen Taylor dismissed interim coach Sam Mitchell and apparently wants to lure a big-name coach to Minnesota.
Jeff Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau appear to be the co-favorites for the Timberwolves’ job. Thibodeau was interviewed over the weekend, while Van Gundy met with them on Monday, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst. The Rockets are also keenly interested in hiring Van Gundy.
Among the other names that have been floated around are ex-Thunder coach Scott Brooks and current Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger.
The Timberwolves are reportedly willing to sweeten the pot for these candidates by also offering them the title of president of basketball operations, similar to the setup that that Pistons agreed to when they hired Jeff’s brother Stan Van Gundy.
What makes the Minnesota job enticing, despite its recent history, is its stash of young talent. Big man Karl-Anthony Towns is the surefire Rookie of the Year after living up to his billing as the top pick in last year’s draft. The 2014 No. 1 overall selection, small forward Andrew Wiggins, established himself as a consistent 20-point scorer in his second season.
Gorgui Dieng also developed his game while pairing up with Towns in the frontcourt, and dunk champion Zach LaVine made strides during his second year in the league while playing both guard positions. Shabazz Muhammad had some big games off the bench, including his 35-point outburst in an April victory over the Warriors.
Now, Taylor must decide which high-profile coach will be the right choice to nurture this young core.
This leads us to our question of the day: Which coach should the Timberwolves hire to turn them into a perennial contender?
Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
Community Shootaround: Kenny Atkinson
The Nets filled their head coaching vacancy this afternoon, hiring Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson to lead the team. Atkinson has been the top assistant to Mike Budenholzer for the past two seasons, and Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical writes that league executives consider Atkinson most ready to become a head coach among current assistants.
Atkinson is in his fourth year with the Hawks. Prior to that, he served as an assistant with the Knicks from 2008-2012 and spent 2007/08 as director of player development for the Rockets. Beyond his experience, he is known for a positive, optimistic personality that should serve him well as he starts the rebuilding job in Brooklyn.
The Nets had been negotiating with Atkinson for several days, but they also talked to other high-profile candidates. Former NBA coaches Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Vinny Del Negro were all rumored candidates for the job, along with Warriors assistant Luke Walton, Bucks assistant Sean Sweeney and Spurs assistant Ime Udoka. Also reportedly in the mix was current Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who may not be brought back to Philadelphia next season. It’s not known how much consideration was given to interim coach Tony Brown or what his future in Brooklyn might be.
The Nets’ road back to contention might be more daunting than any other team’s. Brooklyn finished 21-61 this season, a drop of 17 wins from last year. Trades have left the Nets low on draft picks, as the franchise won’t have a first-rounder this year or in 2018 and will probably have to swap picks with the Celtics next season. Brooklyn has about $56.66MM committed in salary for 2016/17, meaning the Nets will have a little more than $35MM to offer free agents if the salary cap is set at $92MM as expected. That number could be higher if Wayne Ellington, Thomas Robinson and Shane Larkin decide to opt out of their current deals.
That brings us to tonight’s question: Considering the state of the franchise, did the Nets hire the right coach? Was picking a top assistant the best strategy, or would Brooklyn have benefited from the instant credibility of someone with head coaching experience? Also, do you expect ownership to be patient with the 48-year-old Atkinson and 40-year-old general manager Sean Marks, or is Mikhail Prokhorov going to panic if his team keeps losing?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Community Shootaround: Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have a recent tradition of being really good in the regular season, but not in the playoffs. Toronto entered this season with two straight division titles and two straight first-round exits. The Raptors earned their third consecutive division crown, but today’s Game 1 loss to the Pacers has raised fears of another early knockout.
In 2013/14, Toronto won the Atlantic Division with a 48-34 record before losing to the Nets in seven games. Last season, the Raptors improved to 49-33, but were swept by the Wizards in a stunning playoff loss. They entered this year’s playoffs with a 56-26 mark and the second seed in the East. The team is clearly improving, but its postseason troubles create a difficult decision for the front office. Should the Raptors be judged by their performance in the regular season or the playoffs?
If Toronto suffers another first-round flameout, it’s not clear what changes might be made. Head coach Dwane Casey could be in trouble, but he may be saved by his regular-season success and good relationship with the players. Casey has compiled a 210-184 record in nearly five full seasons with Toronto. He has one year left on his current contract at $3.75MM.
The foundation of the team seems set. Its All-Star backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry work well together. DeRozan is headed for free agency this summer and is expected to re-sign, while Lowry still has two seasons and $24MM left on the contract he inked in 2014. Starting center Jonas Valanciunas signed a four-year, $64MM rookie-scale extension over the offseason and is under contract through the 2019/20 season. Backup swingman Terrence Ross received a three-year, $31MM extension in November and is signed through 2018/19.
The Raptors are coming off a productive summer in free agency, signing combo forward DeMarre Carroll for $58MM over four years, point guard Cory Joseph for $30MM over four years, center Bismack Biyombo for $6MM over two years with a player option for next season and power forward Luis Scola for one season at $3MM. In addition to DeRozan, Biyombo and Scola, power forwards James Johnson and Jason Thompson will be free agents this summer. The Raptors won’t have nearly as much cap room to chase free agents this year and are locked into the 27th pick in June’s draft.
That leads us to tonight’s question. If the Raptors exit the playoffs in the first round again, what should be done to shake up the team? Would you decide that Casey is a poor postseason coach and make a change on the bench? Would you break up the starting backcourt, either by letting DeRozan leave in free agency or trying to trade Lowry? Would you attempt to move Valanciunas, Ross or Carroll to get out from under those contracts?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Community Shootaround: Kobe Bryant’s Legacy
Kobe Bryant‘s storied career came to an end Wednesday night with the Lakers’ 101-96 victory over the Jazz in Los Angeles. The veteran shooting guard scored an amazing 60 points while shooting 22 for 50 from the field. Bryant’s remarkable career includes 18 trips to the All-Star game, where he won the MVP award on four occasions, one NBA MVP award, and most importantly — five NBA titles. The 37-year-old’s final career numbers are 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals over a total of 1,346 regular season contests. His slash line is .448/.331/.816.
Bryant had the reputation of being one of the fiercest competitors to ever play the game, a trait that didn’t always make him the ideal teammate. The Mamba reportedly scared away a number of the Lakers’ free agent targets over the years, and one can only wonder how many more titles he and Shaquille O’Neal could have snagged had the pair been able to coexist amicably. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Bryant was one of the greatest to ever step onto the hardwood, and the league won’t feel the same next year with him no longer a part of it.
This brings me to the topic for today: Where does Kobe Bryant rank among the greats who have played the game?
Give us your opinions on where Bryant lands in the all-time rankings, share your fondest memory from his career or take one last parting shot at the Mamba if you don’t count yourself among his fans. We look forward to what you have to say.
Community Shootaround: Suns Coaching Search
The Suns are reportedly planning on casting a wide net this offseason in the search for their next head coach. Interim coach Earl Watson will be among the candidates in the running, with Phoenix also considering Sixers assistant and former Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni, former Suns player and current Grand Canyon University coach Dan Majerle and Warriors assistant Luke Walton. Villanova coach Jay Wright is also reportedly in the mix, though there have been conflicting reports about the Suns’ level of interest in the 2016 NCAA National Championship winner.
GM Ryan McDonough had said that Watson would be a candidate for the job shortly after he replaced former coach Jeff Hornacek, and Watson has the support of at least some of the players. Phoenix is just 7-23 since Watson took over, though injuries have limited Brandon Knight to 10 games and Eric Bledsoe to none during that stretch. While the team hasn’t climbed in the standings under Watson, he has improved the Suns’ defense, with Phoenix notching a defensive rating that is good for 12th-best in the league over its past 10 contests. Before Watson arrived, the Suns were a lowly 29th in that category.
Team owner Robert Sarver was reportedly interested in hiring former MVP Steve Nash to coach the team back in February, but Nash remains uninterested in going into coaching on a full-time basis, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Nash currently wants to focus on fatherhood, his various off-court interests, the part-time consulting role with the Warriors that he took on at the start of this season, and his duties as GM of Team Canada, according to Stein.
This brings me to the topic for today: Who should coach the Suns next season?
Has Watson done enough to have the interim tag removed from his job title, or do you feel the team needs to bring in some fresh blood? Out of the reported candidates, who would be the best fit in Phoenix? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/12/16
According to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times, Bucks GM John Hammond will either be fired or resign from his post soon, and people close to the team told Woelfel that coach Jason Kidd is on shaky ground as well. Lottery-bound Milwaukee has disappointed this year and can finish no better than 35-47 after last season’s 41-41 record. The news on Kidd lends credence to a February report from The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski that noted the coach was losing his influence with Bucks owners in the wake of player personnel moves Kidd spearheaded that haven’t panned out.
The Bucks were expected to take the next step forward toward contention this season, especially after landing Greg Monroe in free agency last summer. But the big man hasn’t been a great fit in Milwaukee’s system and the franchise reportedly had talks with the Pelicans about Monroe before the trade deadline. Bucks owners vetoed a would-be trade with the Pelicans that Kidd was spearheading, according to Wojnarowski, though it’s unclear if that deal would have involved Monroe. Milwaukee also made the controversial decision to trade Brandon Knight last season in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams, who doesn’t appear to be the team’s long-term answer at point guard.
This brings me to the topic for today: Who is more to blame for the current state of the Bucks — Jason Kidd or John Hammond?
Do you place the majority of the blame in Milwaukee on Kidd, whose fingerprints are on a number of the team’s recent roster moves and who coaches the team on a nightly basis? Or do you blame Hammond for the overall construction of the roster, as well as its deficiencies? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/11/16
The Pistons clinched their first playoff berth in seven seasons on Friday night, ending the longest postseason drought in the Eastern Conference, but their All-Star rode the bench most of the fourth quarter.
That wasn’t an aberration. Center Andre Drummond, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, sat the last 8:51 while his teammates finished off the Wizards. There was nothing wrong physically with Drummond. Instead, it was Drummond’s glaring weakness that made him a spectator while the game was still in doubt.
Drummond badly missed two free throws after Washington intentionally fouled him. Drummond is on pace to set the record for the worst single-season free throw shooting performance in NBA history, averaging 35.6% on 582 attempts.
That prompted Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy to wave in backup Aron Baynes to replace Drummond, who seemed to pout during the benching. Van Gundy offered words of encouragement afterward and even made a point of visiting Drummond in the locker room following his press conference.
“He’s really frustrated with the whole free-throw thing and coming out of games,” Van Gundy told the gathered media, including Hoops Rumors. “It’s all about winning and he has to understand that.”
Van Gundy has frequently brought in Baynes to finish out games, particularly since the All-Star break, rather than allowing opponents to send Drummond to the line.
It would be unfair to overstate Drummond’s major flaw without pointing out all the good things he brings to the table. He has led the league in rebounding throughout the season. He has the most double-doubles in the league by a wide margin, as well as the most 20-20 games. His post moves have improved steadily, and the Pistons’ offense is predicated on Drummond’s ability to draw defenders on pick-and-rolls with point guard Reggie Jackson.
Pistons owner Tom Gores called Drummond a max player last spring and the expectation remains that Detroit will give him the biggest contract possible this summer.
It’s still unsettling, and unusual, to have a supposed franchise player that the coach can’t trust to finish games.
This leads us to our question of the day: Given his free throw shooting woes, is Andre Drummond worth a max contract?
Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.