Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 candidates to replace Tom Thibodeau as head coach

5. Stan Van Gundy

Stan Van Gundy is most known for his days coaching the Orlando Magic during the Dwight Howard era from 2007-12. He helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic made the playoffs in all five seasons Van Gundy coached the team, and won 50 games in every season except for the 2011-12 lockout shortened season.

Van Gundy’s more recent stint with the Detroit Pistons was not as successful, as he made the playoffs once in four seasons. The Pistons were swept in the first round to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and Van Gundy was fired following the 2017-18 season.

SVG has coached traditional but dominant bigs in both Orlando and Detroit. He surrounded (or at least attempted to surround) Howard and Andre Drummond with shooters and floor-spacers.

He might be able to create an improved space-and-pace system with a modern center in Karl-Anthony Towns, who has a legit outside game. In 2018-19, Towns shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts per game. With shooters in Robert Covington and Dario Saric already on the roster, Van Gundy has the pieces in place to enact his vision.

Although its unclear if Van Gundy will coach again, what is clear is that he should not be in charge of personnel decisions like he was in Detroit. He traded for Blake Griffin‘s enormous contract and used valuable first round picks on players like Stanley Johnson and Luke Kennard.