Tom Thibodeau fired by Timberwolves halfway through his contract - SB Nation

The Timberwolves fired Tom Thibodeau from all of his jobs on Sunday, just hours after Minnesota beat the Lakers by 21. Thibodeau had run basketball operations and been head coach since the summer of 2016. He’d signed a 5-year contract worth a reported $40 million. He last one game under halfway through the deal (two full seasons and 40 games this year). Yikes.

Scott Layden, hired as the general manager (who reported to Thibs) in a package deal back in 2016, retained his job on Sunday. Ryan Saunders, the 32-year-old son of the late Flip, has taken over as the interim head coach. Flip coached the Timberwolves for much of Ryan’s childhood, so there’s a lot happening here.

Why now? Why after a 21-point win over a team that Wolves are trying to catch for a playoff spot? Thibodeau was rumored to be gone at the end of the season anyway after the handling of the Jimmy Butler debacle and the bad feelings left hanging around the locker room. But the timing is suspicious. So suspicious, in fact, that reports suggest Fred Hoiberg (expected to contend for the coaching or general manager job, but not both) being on UCLA’s target list pushed Timberwolves franchisee Glen Taylor to act.

But then Taylor told reporters that Saunders will have a chance to get the permanent coaching position if the Wolves make the playoffs. The Wolves are two games out after Sunday’s win. Is Hoiberg, who worked on the Wolves staff before becoming a rising star at Iowa State and a disappointment with the Bulls, in line to be a new president of basketball ops above Layden and Saunders?

Who knows? The Wolves are not a normal team, with or without Thibodeau.

Scores

Nets 117, Bulls 100
Lakers 86, Timberwolves 108
Magic 96, Clippers 106
Heat 82, Hawks 106
Wizards 116, Thunder 98
Pacers 105, Raptors 121
Hornets 119, Suns 113

Schedule

All times Eastern. Games on League Pass unless otherwise noted.

Spurs at Pistons, 7
Nets at Celtics, 7:30
Nuggets at Rockets, 8
Jazz at Bucks, 8
Grizzlies at Pelicans, 8
Lakers at Mavericks, 8:30
Knicks at Blazers, 10
Magic at Kings, 10

Links

I wrote the definitive guide to booing in the NBA.

You will unsurprised to learn that Jimmy Butler is not super pleased with his offensive role with the Sixers, who aren’t big on the whole pick-and-roll thing Butler is used to.

It’s from the big Warriors-Rockets game on Thursday, and Houston won anyway, but how in the heavens did officials miss this call?

Killer Vic Oladipo winner from the weekend.

Whitney Medworth lists Josh Hart as the runaway favorite for B-Sides MVP, the only award that matters.

Luka Doncic is the first NBA star really bringing European voting power to All-Star balloting.

How the Lakers have changed Lonzo Ball’s role with LeBron out.

How Kings fans define success after so much failure.

Nope.

Michael McCann on why it’s dangerous for Enes Kanter to join the Knicks in England (he will not join the Knicks in England).

Candace Buckner on the lovefest that is Dwyane Wade’s farewell season in Miami.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo starts hitting threes consistently, it’s over folks.

Incredible moment as Stephen Curry tries the Harden double stepback, gets called for travel, tries to signal that he’s No. 13 (Harden’s number) but does it backward so he’s signaling that he’s No. 31. Just fantastic all around. You know he and Steve Kerr conspired on this one to make a viral moment that would get the league office’s attention more than their normal backchannel complaining would.

DeMarcus Cousins is speaking out about the absurd suspension of high school player Maori Davenport over a $850 check mistakenly sent by USA Basketball and already returned. Come on, Alabama.

And finally: yes, the Bucks used Kawhi Leonard’s laugh to troll Kawhi Leonard during a game. Elite franchise.

Be excellent to each other.

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