It looks like the Minnesota Timberwolves are getting some stability in their future.
The team has been without a full-time general manager or head coach since the team fired Tom Thibodeau in January. Scott Layden and Ryan Saunders have filled in as interim general manager and coach, respectively. According to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Timberwolves will make both men permanent fixtures of their basketball operations staff.
Via Twitter:
Minnesota is finalizing plans to keep GM Scott Layden and coach Ryan Saunders, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019
That was the story earlier on Tuesday night. But as we got deeper into the evening, a second report surfaced saying the Wolves weren’t quite done with their search just yet.
The Timberwolves plan to open up a search for a new President of Basketball Operations. That person will lead the basketball department and help decide on GM Scott Layden and coach Ryan Saunders, league sources tell @TheAthleticMIN. No decisions have been made.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 10, 2019
Minnesota is 16-24 since firing Thibodeau, who was overwhelmed with his role as both the head of the front office and the head coach. It’s not been a winning combination in the NBA recently, although both Thibodeau and Stan Van Gundy have tried to mimic the success of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio.
If Layden and Saunders stay around they will have lots of work to do moving forward, particularly as the roster remains in flux and guys like Andrew Wiggins and Gorgi Dieng have not lived up to their contracts.
It’s a new era in Minnesota and hopefully they will be able to build off of the young, talented core that they have as they move away from Thibodeau and the stink of Jimmy Butler.