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

1. Fred Hoiberg

Time is a flat circle.

Once again, friction between Tom Thibodeau and the front office has led to his firing. And once again, Fred Hoiberg is expected to be his successor.

Hoiberg followed Thibodeau in Chicago, but his tenure was not as memorable. After a 5-19 start to the season, Hoiberg was fired in early December. It wasn’t entirely his fault, however, as key players like Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis, Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine all suffered injuries and missed time. Hoiberg’s overall record with the Bulls was 115-155.

His tenure as the Bulls head coach was the opposite of Thibs’ time there; It was quiet. There was no major controversy (after Jimmy Butler left) nor any big playoff runs. This time, however, things are different.

Hoiberg has better personnel than given to him by the Chicago front office. For one, Jimmy Butler won’t be there to challenge or undermine him. He doesn’t have many non-shooters like he did with Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. Instead, he has floor-spacing bigs in Towns and Saric. Even Derrick Rose, who only lasted one season with Hoiberg before being traded, has a reliable jump shot now.

Ultimately, Fred Hoiberg might be the best man suited for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ head coaching job. He has all the tools at his disposal, and at the very least should be a better successor to Thibodeau the second time around.