Minnesota Timberwolves: Takeaways From Tom Thibodeau’s Introductory Press Conference

As per usual, nothing ground-breaking was divulged during Tom Thibodeau’s introductory press conference, but the newly-formed Minnesota Timberwolves management team seems to have established an apropos hierarchy, and looks poised to compete for the long run.

The Minnesota Timberwolves officially introduced Tom Thibodeau as the team’s new head coach and president of basketball operations on Tuesday, along with Scott Layden as the franchise’s new general manager.

Several Timberpups showed up in support of their newly-enshrined head men, including franchise cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, as well as Shabazz Muhammad and Tyus Jones.

While the introductory press conference didn’t necessarily divulge any pertinent information, and primarily served as a “smile for the cameras,” hyperbole-induced media hype session, there were several key points to be taken away for the growing contingent of Timberwolves nation.

Glen Taylor Is In This For The Long Haul

Not only is Papa Glen excited about turning the new leaf on Timberwolves basketball, he also declared he will remain the franchise’s majority owner for the foreseeable future.

He also went all LeBron James on us when he said it was a unique opportunity for the Wolves to compete for not one, not two, not three… well, you get the point.

Most encouragingly, Taylor re-emphasized his commitment to building a winner in Minnesota, and he is more than willing to open up his pockets to do so.

Scott Layden Will Work In Cohesion With Thibs In Strengthening Roster

After giving praise to the work and vision Flip Saunders had engendered with this potential-filled and talented roster, he gave the sense the Timberwolves brass will proactively look to strengthen the roster, and believes the team can compete for the playoffs as soon as next year.

The “division of labor” topic was discussed briefly, and not surprisingly, all parties sang the same tune in that Thibs, Layden, and Taylor will all have their say in all upper-managerial and personnel decisions.

Defense And Rebounding Will Be Emphasized

While it is not groundbreaking news by any means that Thibs is stressing defense and rebounding — because, after all, his Chicago Bulls teams finished first, second, sixth, second, and 11th in the league in defensive efficiency from 2010-15 — he did give an interesting tidbit and take on three-point shooting, which has long been a hot topic of contention in Minnesota.

More explicitly, although the Timberwolves won’t look to make an outrageous number of threes a game, they will seek to take, and make, a conservative amount; while, most importantly, hold the opposition to a number of made threes below what they convert.

But, all in all, Thibs will be Thibs, and what he will be evaluating and stressing on a nightly basis will still come down to defense, rebounding, turnovers and playing in cohesion.

Wiggins Has Cornrows

Karl-Anthony Towns may have represented the young core in liaising with the media and taking pictures with the newly-formed management team, but it was his teammate, Andrew Wiggins, who stole the headlines when he debuted in person his new hairdo, effectively giving Kawhi Leonard a run for his cornrows money.

Wiggy actually gave the world a glimpse of his new hairstyle a week or so ago on his Instagram account (he also appears to be friends with Easy E Jr.), but this was the first time the gangly Canadian showed it off in a media-prepped setting. Hopefully he keeps it for next season.

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Such swag will undoubtedly catapult the young 21-year-old stud into elite two-way status next season, en route to fulfilling Papa Glen’s prophecy of competing for not one, not two, not three…well, you get the point.