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Well, I did not expect this today:
Sources with @JonKrawczynski: Minnesota has fired coach Tom Thibodeau.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 7, 2019
Scott Layden will continue as general manager and Ryan Saunders will take over as interim head coach.
The timing is quite surprising, with two plus years remaining on his contract, though Glen Taylor’s unhappiness with Thibs was not a secret. Taylor has made clear that he expects results this season, but I thought Thibs would get the entire year to show them.
I guess Taylor did not like the direction things were heading, and decided to make a change now.
Ryan Saunders gets to audition for the Wolves and other teams, though my gut reaction is he is not the guy long term.
I assume they will get through the season as things are currently constituted and look to make an overhaul in the summer.
Which is one of the reasons this is surprising, but perhaps the situation became untenable in ways we are not privy to.
Getting rid of Thibs has been at the forefront for many at Canis Hoopus, and we finally got our wish. Will be interesting to see where things go from here.
Woj:
Fred Hoiberg is a serious consideration of Minnesota owner Glen Taylor to become either the GM or head coach in the future, league sources tell ESPN. Hoiberg was an assistant GM in Minnesota prior to Iowa State. Scott Layden remains GM now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 7, 2019
Much more on this to come.