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Minnesota Timberwolves: How a good offseason could have been great

By Josh Cornelissen

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 10: Free Agent signee Taj Gibson of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for portraits with Scott Layden and Tom Thibodeau on July 10, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 10: Free Agent signee Taj Gibson of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for portraits with Scott Layden and Tom Thibodeau on July 10, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Power forward

Tom Thibodeau looked at the current roster and correctly identified the team needed a power forward. Pairing Gorgui Dieng and Karl-Anthony Towns is not the worst lineup, but having another option at the 4 would open up roster flexibility for Thibodeau.

Where he made a mistake was in pursuing veteran big man Taj Gibson to fill the role. Gibson is not washed up, but he’s also not the same player he was in his prime. Whether it’s 2010 Taj Gibson or 2017 Taj Gibson, he does not space the floor, and on a team starting Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, spacing from the frontcourt is needed.

The better pick at that spot would have been Patrick Patterson, a stretch-4 who showed with the Toronto Raptors that he is a boost to any rotation. The Raptors’ best lineups always included Patterson, and he has worked hard to increase his shooting and defense.

Patterson, despite a limited role off the bench, launched 3.9 attempts from long range and hit 37.2 percent of them. With both Patterson and Towns able to shoot from distance, the Timberwolves could’ve varied offensive sets and kept opposing defenses honest and guessing.

The even better part of Patterson is his contract; while Gibson signed for $28 million over two seasons, Patterson signed for three years and just $16.4 million total. While Gibson does have familiarity with Thibodeau and the defensive scheme, he also brings more wear and tear as he enters his age-32 season. Patterson is just 28.

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